Travel Journals
Man who lives on a cruise ship has spent 24 years at sea
Mario Salcedo gave up life on land almost 25 years ago.
Tired of travelling by plane for his job, the Cuban national, who moved to Miami with his family in the 60s, booked a cruise — and fell in love with perpetual movement.
While spending your days surrounded by nothing but miles of deep ocean might sound like a nightmare to some, we can all relate to the dream of escaping the 9-5 for something more adventurous.
And it’s a dream that Mario is living.
Known as ‘Super Mario’ by the staff on the ships he lives on, he recently completed his 1,000th cruise with Royal Caribbean while aboard the 3,286-passenger Explorer of the Seas.
The ship, which departed Miami on January 5 on an 11-night voyage to Panama and the Southern Caribbean, even held a special event to celebrate the occasion.
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24 years at sea
Though he has an apartment in Miami, Mario spends little time there — around 15 days on land and the rest at sea.
He has effectively lived full-time on a cruise ship for over 20 years, and admits he finds it difficult to walk in a straight line because he has ‘lost his land legs’.
He previously told Conde Nast Traveler: ‘When I hit 45, I wanted to start a new chapter in my life travelling around the world — that was my vision’.
After trying out a few different lines, Mario booked a stint on Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas in the year 2000 and hasn’t set foot on another liner since.
‘Nothing could lure me away from them, because I get treated like royalty,’ he revealed.
He’s now the highest-ranking member of Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor Society, having become the first cruiser to pass 10,000 points in 2022.
To put this in perspective, members earn one point for each night on a Royal Caribbean cruise (with an extra point per night for staying in a suite or cruising solo in a double occupancy cabin).
Mario schedules his trips two years, or 150 bookings, ahead, meaning he can stay in the same room for an extended period.
And he’s become so accustomed to life at sea that he now feels uneasy when spending time on land.
While ships are in port, he prefers to go scuba diving rather than venturing on land. He enjoys dancing, watching basketball and football, and enjoying a cigar and cognac after dinner with other passengers on board.
An expensive habit
In 2019, Mario revealed to cruise content creator Alanna Zingano how much it costs to live permanently on a cruise.
Between the fare, the cabin, taxes and tips, Mario explained he tends to spend around $185 (£151.75) each day for the ‘basics’ while on a cruise — meaning no alcohol, excursions or internet access.
He then revealed that his own annual budget is $72,093 for an interior cabin.
That number goes up to $101,258 (£82,672) for a cabin with a balcony, or $136,000 (£111,037) for a junior suite, according to Mario.
‘I looked up the average cost of assisted living in the United States per year and it’s $100,380 (£81,955),’ he added.
‘You can see that if you do an interior cabin, it’s cheaper to live on a cruise.’
How much does it cost to live on a cruise ship?
Mario isn’t the only person who’s left dry land behind in favour of life on a cruise.
48-year-old Kevin Martin, from Missouri, previously spent a year living on cruises, and broke down the costs on his YouTube channel.
In total, Kevin spent £1,615 in a month. A few of his costs included:
- Accommodation & inclusive meals – £1,080
- Extra food – £22
- Phone – £85
- Insurance – £42
- Healthcare – £19
‘I plan on integrating cruising into my travel plans in the future… I hate flights. I loved my year on cruise ships,’ he said.
But if you fancy sailing around some destinations in Europe, you’ll need to leave extra room in your budget for tourist taxes — the Greek islands of Santorini and Mykonos have introduced a visitor tax for cruise passengers.
Memorable moments
After 1,000 cruises, Mario has had some unforgettable experiences.
He recently told the Royal Caribbean blog that his favourite stop is the cruise line’s private destination in Labadee, Haiti.
Revealing his most memorable moment, Mario said: ‘Without a doubt, the ‘hurricane evacuation’ cruise onboard Enchantment of the Seas in September 2017.’
After an evacuation order was issued in South Florida, following the devastation caused in the Caribbean by Hurricane Irma, Enchantment of the Seas was offered to Miami-based employees and their immediate families as a means of free evacuation.
The only time in the past 20 years Mario hasn’t cruised for most of the year was when the cruise industry shut down at the height of the Covid pandemic.
And he doesn’t plan on leaving the cruise ships again if he can help it.
He said: ‘With so many friends and memories made out at sea over the years, I plan to continue cruising indefinitely, so long as I’m in good health and having fun.’
This article was originally published on 22 January 2025 and has been updated.
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This week’s Heads Up has the scoop on rental sports gear in the Outaouais, a farm-to-table dinner in Munster, a new bus to the Ottawa airport, a new restaurant in Kemptville, a bike ride near Eganville, açaí treats at St. Laurent Shopping Centre, day tripping to New Edinburgh and Rockcliffe, and more. Enjoy!
Cheese shop getting close to 100 percent Canadian stock
As you already know, I’m a big fan of supporting Canadian products—just check out my big guide to shopping locally. So a recent Facebook post by the Balderson Village Cheese Store, just outside Perth, caught my eye. The store’s owners have been making a concerted effort to stock 100 percent made-in-Canada foods. They’re about 75 percent of the way there and hope to have 100 percent Canadian stock by the end of the year. Well done!
You can rent scooters, pontoon boats and more in the Outaouais
Want to explore the great outdoors in the Outaouais, but you don’t have the gear? Tourisme Outaouais has this handy list of companies that rent out kayaks, paddleboards, canoes, electric bikes, scooters, pontoon boats and more.
OC Transpo to launch new bus to the airport
Perhaps finally realizing that folks travelling from Ottawa’s east end to Ottawa International Airport don’t much fancy taking three trains to reach their destination, OC Transpo is launching a direct bus service connecting the St. Laurent, Train and Hurdman stations to the airport. According to this CTV Ottawa story, Route 105 will launch on Sunday, August 24, and will run every half hour, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The bus is anticipated to take 33 minutes to travel from St. Laurent to the airport.
Quebec loves its Nordic spas
Quebec seems to have embraced the Nordic spa concept—the circuit of hot tub or sauna, cold pool or shower, relaxation and repeat—more strongly than just about anywhere else in Canada. I’ve written a post about some of my favourite Quebec Nordic spas, and it barely scratches the surface. My friend Hilary Nangle recently wrote a post about her favourite Quebec Nordic spas and while there’s a bit of overlap between the two pieces, she’s discovered quite a few spots that I haven’t made it to … yet.
Science fiction, fantasy and horror book convention is coming to Kanata
I wanted to mention this event on the website last year, but by the time I heard about it, it had sold out! So if you’re a fan of Canadian science fiction, fantasy and horror novels, you might want to get your ticket to Can*Con now. You can meet authors, buy books, take classes, pitch your own book to agents and more. It’s happening at the Brookstreet Hotel in Kanata from October 17 to 19.
New restaurant opens in Kemptville
Named for a famous local Holstein bull, Goldwyn’s restaurant opened this past weekend at 25 Clothier Street East in downtown Kemptville. It promises diners “a modern take on the Wild West at our elevated country western saloon.” Sounds like fun!
You can take a staycation in New Edinburgh and Rockcliffe
Fancy staying close to home? I have just the suggestion: a day spent exploring New Edinburgh, Lindenlea and Rockcliffe. From the new(ish) NCC River House on the Ottawa River to a posh grocery store and a great place to pick up consignment designer clothes, you can read my day trip tips in the Ottawa Business Journal.
Saunders Farm Pig and Corn Roast tickets are available
Most years, the farm-to-table Pig and Corn Roast at Saunders Farm in Munster sells out. So if you want to go to this year’s event on Sunday, August 24, you might want to get your tickets now.
Scenic August bike ride will take cyclists along Eganville backroads
If you want to challenge yourself to a self-supported, non-racing bike ride through the hills and along the backroads near Eganville, now’s the time to register for this year’s Tour de Bonnechere on Sunday, August 24. You can choose from 50km, 65km and 100km routes, as well as a 20km family ride.
You can try a superfood at St. Laurent Shopping Centre
Perhaps açaí berries are old hat to you. I’d heard of them but hadn’t had a chance to taste the Brazilian “superfood” until I was invited to try it at Rio Açaí at St. Laurent Shopping Centre. (The owners also have a location at 35 allée de Hambourg in Gatineau.)
Açaí berries have become trendy in recent years for their health benefits. At Rio Açaí, you can try them in a bowl with your choice of other fruits (I picked mangoes, strawberries and blueberries). The consistency of puréed açaí is a bit like tapioca pudding and it isn’t super sweet, so it made a nice combo with the sweet, dense fruit. You can also try other Brazilian specialties at the takeout spot, such as warm cheese bread (it’s really good) and, of course, coffee.
(Disclosure: I received free products for review purposes. The shop did not review or approve this post. All opinions are my own.)
Looking for more tips on things to see and do in and around Ottawa? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or order a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your 100-km Getaway Guide.
As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.
Walk five minutes south of the monastery, past one former synagogue – Santa Maria La Blanca, reputed to be Europe’s oldest – and you arrive at another. The magnificent carved wooden ceilings and plasterwork walls of El Transito blend Mozarabic decorative influences. Constructed in 1355, El Transito houses the Sephardic Museum, which accounts for Toledo’s long Jewish history. You’ll find good information sheets in English and the museum has some especially beautiful ceramics. Pause afterwards in the synagogue’s small memorial garden. See spain.info
Take in the art at Hospital de Tavera
Patio in Hospital de Tavera museum.Credit: Alamy
Don’t like monuments and art? Better skip Toledo, which has them in spades. This Renaissance palace, built by a cardinal for the needy, is a whopper. The architectural highlight is the symmetrical double courtyards, while a wealth of paintings includes masterpieces by El Greco, Tintoretto and Zurbaran. Cardinal Tavera’s marble tomb is a sculptural work of art too, with no sign of humility other than a little memento mori skull tucked under his pillow. See fundacionmedinaceli.org
Admire El Greco paintings
Museum El Greco.Credit: iStock
Toledo is associated with El Greco, the 16th-century painter whose works seem astonishingly modern. You can see quite a few of his paintings in Toledo, and all are odd and electrifying. The church of Santo Domingo Monastery where the painter is buried has top examples including the altarpiece Assumption of the Virgin showing Mary springing from her tomb like a jack-in-the-box. El Greco Museum (in a house where El Greco never lived, despite claims) has several superb later works. See museodelgreco.sacatuentrada.es
Fill up at Confiteria Santo Tome
Santo Tome shop in Zocodover Square, Toledo.Credit: Alamy Stock Photo
If El Greco’s elongated, hollow-cheeked saints make you peckish, take a break from gloomy painted art and indulge in happy edible art instead. Toledo nuns are said to have invented marzipan – which is disputed – but Toledo has certainly produced it for centuries. Santo Tome, in business since 1856, is Spain’s best-known marzipan maker. You can devour biscuits, pastries, cakes, sweets and marzipan fruit filled with lip-licking goo. Like El Greco’s saints, you’ll soon be in heaven. See mazapan.com
Take a hike to Mirador del Valle
There are sweeping views of Toledo and the Tagus River from Mirador del Valle.Credit: iStock
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In this old town of closed-in alleys, you’ll want to get beyond the walls to admire Toledo’s fabulous setting above the Tagus River, dominated by the whopping Alcazar, or fortress. This viewpoint is a 40-minute walk from Puente Nuevo bridge just below the fortress, but outlooks are fabulous all the way. Sunset and twilight are the most atmospheric. The lazy option is a taxi to nearby Parador de Toledo for a cocktail on the terrace. See paradores.es
The writer travelled at his own expense.
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