A man who has lived on cruise ships for the past 25 years has unveiled a bizarre health effect that he spends so much time at sea – he has lost his country legs.
Mario Salcedo, who recently clocked his 1,000th trip with Royal Caribbean and is known as' Super Mario 'in cruise circles, said Conde Nast Traveler:' I lost my country legs. I am so waving that I cannot walk in a straight line. I am so used to ships that it feels more at ease than on the land. '
Elaine Warren, the founder and CEO of the Family Cruise Companion, noted that losing 'Land legs' – known as Mal de Débarquement Syndrome – is common with long -term cruisers.
She told MailOnline Travel: 'Spending on a cruise ship for a longer period of time sounds like a dream for many families. The convenience, entertainment and the all-inclusive nature of experience make it an attractive idea.
'But when you shift from a holiday mentality to actually living at sea, many unexpected things happen – especially for your body.
'I have helped families to plan cruise holidays for years, and although short journeys are one thing, it is a different experience in the long term.
Mario Salcedo (above), who has lived on cruise ships for the past 25 years, said Conde Nast Traveler: 'I have lost my country legs. I am so waving that I cannot walk in a straight line '
'The first adjustment is to constant movement. The body adapts to the movement of the ship over time, but that does not always mean in a good way.
'Many long -term cruisers believe that they are developing' Zeebonden ', where they get so used to the light swing of the ship that feels walking on the land strange. I spoke with people who have lived at sea for months, and they say that withdrawing on solid soil can be disorienting – almost as if the country itself is moving.
“For children this can be especially disturbing when they get out for the first time after a long journey.”
Mr Salcedo revealed that he spends around $ 101,000/£ 81,000 on cruises per year for a hut with a balcony, and finances his ocean style through investment management work.
His shape with Royal Caribbean is such that on some ships crew made improvised offices for him on deck complete with deposited tables and chairs and signs with 'Super Mario's Office'.
Mario recently clocked his 1,000th trip with Royal Caribbean. He is shown above in 2021
Mario's 1,000th cruise was on the 3,286 passengers Explorer of the Seas (above in 2023), which left Miami on January 5 for a trip of 11 nights to Panama and the southern Caribbean area
Mario, who is not on social media, said Jackie Sheckler Finch on allthingscruise.com: “Cruising never gets old.”
The full-time cruiser told allthings cruise.com that he was permanently on the high seas after 'tiring from the PAH-EN-Zebellereld and the long flights to international customers'.
After his first cruise in 1997, the businessman born in Cuban was addicted.
He lifted a few cruise companies, but settled on Royal Caribbean as the company with the ships he liked best.
He has been living almost continuously at Royal Caribbean ships since the year 2000 and only spends a few days a year on the country and pauses for 15 months during Covid.
His 1,000th cruise was on the 3,286 passengers Explorer of the seas, which on January 5 left Miami for a journey of 11 nights to Panama and the southern Caribbean.
Mario said he spends about five hours a day and 'has fun' for the rest of the time.
“It's zero stress,” he said. “The best lifestyle I can find.”
Thanks allthingscruise.com For kind permission to publish his photos of Mr. Salcedo.
