Süper Mario Royal Caribbean!

He works for 5 hours, the rest is vacation! He got a 50% discount, his only problem is walking on land.

Many people in the world love the sea and desire to travel. However, very few dedicate their lives completely to the sea and spend years on ships. The extraordinary man known as the 'Eternal Traveler' and who has been living his life on ships by crossing oceans for over 25 years, has one of the most interesting lifestyles of modern times.

Compiled by: Gonca Kocabaş / Milliyet.com.tr - Cuban-born businessman Mario Salcedo was a successful financial manager in the corporate world when he made a radical decision in the late 1990s. After working for large companies for years, he decided to leave the standard order that business life had offered him behind. He no longer wanted to be stuck in offices and concrete buildings. He charted a new course for himself in order to spend his life in a more meaningful and enjoyable way. And that was to be at sea forever. At first, he did not plan to be a full-time passenger.

‘I’VE TAKEN OVER A THOUSAND CRUISE’

Salcedo traveled around testing different lines until he booked a cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas. “At the time, it was the largest cruise ship in the world and it was so revolutionary. It had the first ice rink, the first rock climbing wall, so many elements that took cruising to another level,” says Mario. He hasn’t set foot on another ship since, and has taken over a thousand cruises with Royal Caribbean. “When I turned 45, I wanted to start a new chapter in my life by traveling around the world, that was my vision,” says Mario. “I had no knowledge of traveling by air, rail or sea. When I lived in South Florida, I had seen so many ships docked in the Port of Miami, so I decided to take a cruise and I’ve never looked back. Nothing could take me away from them because I was treated like royalty,” he joked. Mario said, “All the captains know me. The first person to call me ‘Super Mario’ ten years ago was Charles Teige, captain of the Liberty of the Seas, and this nickname has been passed down from ship to ship. I spend about five hours a day working, and the rest of the time I just have fun. No stress. It’s the best lifestyle I can find.”

Salcedo’s life consists of sipping his coffee in the mornings facing the sea, walking on the deck and spending his days at a leisurely pace. For him, every day is a different port, a different view. However, one should not make the mistake of thinking he is always on vacation. Salcedo lives as a kind of ‘sea nomad’ on the ships he travels on, earning his living by working remotely and doing financial analysis. Despite being constantly on the move, he has a strict routine. He never neglects his morning exercises, works at certain hours during the day and likes to spend time with the ship’s crew in the evenings. The deck of the ship is his office, the restaurants are his dining room and his cabin is like his home.

SPENDS 4 MILLION LIRAS ANNUALLY

Salcedo budgets around $100,000 (approximately 4 million lira) per year for his travels and pays for his travels with a credit card, which is how he earns miles and uses them on his travels. Mario, who books an inside cabin, says, “I don’t do anything in my cabin except shower, dress and sleep, and I plan my trips about two years in advance. That way, I can stay in the same room for long periods of time in a row.”

“Usually, single travelers like me are charged a 200 percent single occupancy supplement, but thanks to my status in Royal Caribbean’s loyalty club, I am only charged 50 percent. I don’t eat like a regular passenger. I skip one meal a day and eat smart. I dance a lot and walk a lot. Other than that, I skip most excursions on port days and prefer to scuba dive. I go dancing in the lounges, watch basketball or soccer games on TV. Everything I do on the ship provides an opportunity to socialize.”

Although this lifestyle is costly, Salcedo has been managing it systematically for many years. Since he travels constantly, he is able to make special agreements with tourism companies, benefit from the advantages offered to frequent travelers and avoid unnecessary expenses. Since he has no expenses on land, he only needs to deal with the travel and on-board expenses.

'I CAN'T WALK IN A STRAIGHT LINE ON LAND'

In terms of social aspects, Salcedo feels freer as he has broken away from the routines of land life. Thanks to the friends he has made during his years on the ship, the ship's staff and other passengers, he has a constant social circle. However, he also admits that in the long run, the longing for a stable home and family environment can be challenging at times. Salcedo only spends about 15 days on land each year. During these days, he either does medical or bank work. Mario, who has a house in Miami that he keeps open to be able to stay during these periods, has turned one of his rooms into a ship museum.