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Living life on a cruise ship may seem like an impossible feat–but Mario Salcedo has figured out exactly how to do it. (And so has this couple.) The cruising legend and Miami native celebrated his 1,000th cruise with Royal Caribbean earlier this month, marking over 20 years of living on a cruise ship ship and solidifying his reign as Royal Caribbean's most loyal cruiser.

Nicknamed 'Super Mario', he began cruising in 1994. "When I hit 45, I wanted to start a new chapter in my life traveling around the world—that was my vision,” he told Conde Nast Traveler. “But I didn’t know about the logistics, whether air, train, or sea."


After testing out different cruise lines, he booked a voyage on Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas—and never looked back. “It was the biggest cruise ship in the world at the time, and so revolutionary—the first ice skating rink, the first rock climbing wall, so many elements that took cruising to another dimension,” he told the publication.


Since then, he has remained loyal to the cruise line, and shared that he only spends about 15 days on land, averaging 50 weeks a year of cruising. Salcedo found his groove with cruising while continuing to work in the the investment management business from sea. And when he's not working, he's playing.

“I go dancing in the lounges, or enjoy a nice cigar after dinner with a cognac, watching basketball or football games on TV," he told the publication. "Everything I do on the ship provides an opportunity to socialize.”

Cruise danceHappy Dance GIF by The Crab PlaceGiphy

While life at sea may seem like a dream, living permanently on a cruise also comes with its challenges—including its impact on Salcedo's health. "I’ve lost my land legs, so when I’m swaying so much I can’t walk in a straight line,” he told Conde Nast Traveler.

And although he has taken full advantage of Royal Caribbean's loyalty programs—he is a Pinnacle Club member in the line's Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program—he certainly doesn't cruise for free. In 2019, he shared with Cruise the World A to Z exactly how much he spent each year to live full-time on a cruise ship.

Mario Salcedo shares how much it costs to live on a cruise ship.www.youtube.com

Salcedo explained that it costs an average of $185 per day for his interior cabin. "If you do the math, in my case, my budget is $72,093. So the minimum is $72,000," he shared. He added that this is for the most basic of accommodations, and no extras like alcohol or excursions. He explained to Conde Nast Traveler, "I don’t eat like a regular cruiser. I skip one meal a day, and eat smart," he added.

However, Salcedo argues that it's still a deal compared to the average cost of assisted living in the United States, which he shared with Cruise the World A to Z that he also researched. "I looked up the average cost of assisted living in the United States per year and it's $100,380. You can see that if you do an interior cabin, it's cheaper to live on a cruise ship."


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He stood alone in his empty restaurant. His daughter posted a video—and the crowds came pouring in.
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He stood alone in his empty restaurant. His daughter posted a video—and the crowds came pouring in.

Social media recently showcased its heartwarming power when a daughter shared a poignant TikTok video of her father sitting alone, waiting for customers in their empty family-run restaurant. The emotional footage quickly went viral, inspiring an overwhelming wave of community support.

@jennif3rle

tiktok do your thing & help support my parents Vietnamese restaurant:( my parents haven’t been having that many customers & been feeling stressed dealing with financial issues. if you want to check it out, they make delicious vietnamese food:) 1010 Hopper Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 #fyp #vietnamesefood #restaurant

Lee's Noodle House, located on Hopper Avenue, Santa Rosa, has been a family-owned business since 2003. Vuong and Ha Tran, Lee's parents, cook and serve authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Lee herself, along with her sister, previously worked at the restaurant, which had struggled significantly since the pandemic.

Sharing the video, Lee captioned it, "TikTok do your thing & help support my parent's Vietnamese restaurant :( My parents haven’t been having that many customers & been feeling stressed dealing with financial issues. If you want to check it out, they make delicious Vietnamese food:) 1010 Hopper Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95403."

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Vuong, in an interview with The Press Democrat, admitted being surprised by his daughter's video and acknowledged the sadness it captured. The pandemic forced them to shorten their hours, closing early at 7:30 pm instead of the usual 9 pm, as they struggled to meet expenses.

Following the viral video, Lee's Noodle House was flooded with new customers, an overwhelming response that deeply touched the family. Lee followed up with more TikTok videos, sharing additional details about their Vietnamese dishes and expressing heartfelt gratitude. She wrote in one caption, "The amount of love and responses from the TikTok community has been insane! Also, thank you to the customers who have been coming for years, too! The comment section has brought my parents and me to tears. We are so grateful for all the support and for everyone who is coming out! We hope you can continue to spread the word about our small family business. My parents are the hardest workers I know and I just want happiness and good health for them. Please remember to be patient, as they are the only ones working!"

The incredible support from the community reminded everyone about the critical importance of helping local businesses through challenging times. Lee's touching video not only spotlighted the family's struggles but also showcased the positive potential of social media when used to unite and uplift others.

The Lee family continues to express their immense gratitude, hoping their newfound success will continue. It's beautiful when a simple act of kindness can profoundly impact lives, especially for those dedicated small businesses at the heart of our communities.

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