Mario Salcedo is a man of Cuban origin who made his fortune in finance and is a millionaire. However, his life is peculiar for another (although related) reason. And, 25 years ago, he decided to live on a perpetual vacation. Since then, he has been linking one cruise ship to another, swapping a traditional home for these ships that look like a mix of a hotel and a shopping center on the water.
Although it could be the plot of a movie, it is a real-life story and we have Salcedo's testimony to know what it is really like to realize that dream that many of us think about when we have to return to work. He himself told 'The New York Times' in 2019 that he never wanted to start a family. His life consisted solely of working, so one day he decided to leave his apartment in Miami and go on a cruise. He liked the experience so much that he did not return.
He is usually a regular passenger on the Royal Caribbean fleet, where the crew knows him as Super Mario. In fact, Salcedo has a reserved table on one of the cruise ship's decks on which a handwritten sign reads, “Super Mario Office.” It is the place where he sits teleworking every day because, for him, this adventure is not a vacation: “People come here to spend a vacation. Not me, I am here to live my life,” explained the millionaire.
In another interview with 'Condé Nast' magazine, he explained that they usually reserve an inside cabin without a balcony because “I don't do anything in my cabin except shower, get dressed and sleep,” as he himself explained. To avoid having to constantly change cabins, Salcedo plans his trips 150 reservations in advance. In this way, he has already taken more than 1,154 cruises, spending between 70,000 and 100,000 dollars a year to pay for them.
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In addition to teleworking from his outdoor table, this millionaire spends the day socializing with other travelers or dancing in one of the ship's dance rooms. However, that life of luxury and relaxation aboard one of the largest pleasure ships in the world has taken its toll. And he has lost “his land legs” and is no longer able to walk in a straight line when he arrives at port.
After more than 25 years rocked by the sway of the waves on the best cruise ships, the millionaire has developed a rare disease called Landing Disease. This is a rare disorder that affects the vestibular system of the ear and, consequently, balance. This results in a constant feeling of movement even when you are stable and motionless on solid ground.
It is popularly known as “dirt legs” and usually lasts a couple of days at most. However, everything changes when you only spend fifteen days a year on land. The disease has become chronic. Furthermore, Salcedo claims to be so used to being on boats that he already feels more comfortable than on land.
This is why he does not usually go ashore and when he does it is to take a plane to his next cruise. Also, when they dock in Miami he goes to check that everything is still in order in his apartment and he also has no choice but to do so when he has to make arrangements with the bank or medical visits. So, at the moment, he has no plans to change his life.
Cover photo | Alonso Reyes
