US businessman reveals seven-figure cost of living on cruise ships permanently for 23 years
Published on Mar 03, 2026 at 4:40 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Mar 03, 2026 at 4:40 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
If you ever wondered what it was like living on cruise ships permanently for nearly 25 years, one US businessman revealed just how much it cost back in February 2025.
Mario Salcedo, aka Super Mario, has been living on cruise ships for 23 years, having become bored with constantly travelling the world by airplane.
Fed up with staying in hotel rooms more than in his Miami home, he booked himself onto a cruise in the late 1990s, and he has never looked back.
After nearly 25 years at sea, he spoke to YouTuber Alanna Zingano to discuss the cost of a life at sea.
DISCOVER OUR SUPERCAR AUCTION SITE – View live auctions on SBX Cars
This is how much it costs to live on cruise ships permanently
Salcedo said that the cost can depend on what segment of the cruise market you choose to live in.
For example, luxury liners will cost much more than a more contemporary ocean liner cruise ship.
“Assuming you chose the luxury segment of the market, now the money becomes critical,” he said.
“You’re gonna be paying a lot more to live on a luxury line than you would on a contemporary line, probably at least twice as much,” he added.
Salcedo said in the interview that he tries to have at least $100 a day that he can use.
That isn’t the case with every cruise, but it’s a ballpark figure.
He also said he usually pays around $185 a day for the basics on a ship.
That figure excludes luxuries like internet access.
So, rough maths time, if you multiply $185 by 365 for the days in a year, that is around $67,000 a year.
Salcedo’s total budget is slightly higher at $72,093 a year.
Click the star icon next to supercarblondie.com in Google Search to stay ahead of the curve on the latest and greatest supercars, hypercars, and ground-breaking technology
Why living on a cruise ship appeals to Salcedo
Salcedo is a ship lover, so that is one reason for him to live on ships permanently.
But there are more practical reasons for why he made the move.
As a businessman, he regularly traveled around the world by airplane, something he soon became bored with.
Plus, hotel rooms offered no real view, and he would find himself stuck in them for a long time, working.
As such, Salcedo fancied a change of scenery.
He became a permanent passenger on the ships at the age of 47.
After 100 back-to-back voyages, he had spent $1.3 million travelling on ocean liners by 2016.
But he does still work remotely on the ships.
All while living on cruise ships and seeing some amazing views around the world.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a heritage steam railway.
