The People Who Left Everything Behind
In a world where remote work has become routine and the line between vacation and daily life is blurred, a unique phenomenon is developing: people who decide to leave everything behind and live on cruise ships for long periods, sometimes years or even permanently. They are not going on a vacation cruise they simply move to live on the deck.
What sounds like a Hollywood fantasy of millionaires has become the reality of dozens, maybe hundreds, of people worldwide. Some do it out of love for the sea and freedom, others for simple economic reasons: it turns out living on a ship can be cheaper than living in a big city on land.
“Super Mario” The Man Who Has Lived at Sea for a Quarter Century
Every morning, 74-year-old Mario Salcedo wakes up to the sound of waves, not an alarm clock. Salcedo, a former investment manager, retired in 1997, and since 2000 he has barely been on land. Over a thousand voyages, including more than 800 on Royal Caribbean ships, have made him a legendary figure in the cruise world.
“I have an apartment in Miami, but I hardly ever visit it,” he once said. “My home is the sea. I feel truly free there.” Crew members know him by name, he has a reserved table in the restaurant, and he spends his days between the pool, the gym, and the dance club. He moves from one ship to another most of the year, coming ashore only a few weeks each year, mainly for medical checkups.
Nicknamed “Super Mario” by the media, he became a living symbol of the phenomenon. On one hand, he is a free man who found his paradise in the heart of the sea; on the other, he admits there is a price. “I lost my land legs,” he joked once. “When I get off the ship, the ground feels unstable.”
Practical Life at Sea: Angel and Richard’s Story
If Salcedo represents the romantic side of floating life, Angel and Richard Baker represent the practical side. This American couple, in their mid-fifties, decided in 2021 to calculate the cost of living on a ship versus living on land. The result surprised even them long-term life on cruise ships was cheaper.
“On average we spend about $100 per day per person,” said Angel, a former accountant, in an interview. “The price includes food, cleaning, entertainment, maintenance everything you need. On land, even without noticing, we would pay much more for electricity, insurance, fuel, and groceries.”
Since then, they have been moving from ship to ship, enjoying different ports each month and a worry-free lifestyle. They say they hardly miss a permanent home. “We meet people from all over the world, have a clean room and a changing view every morning. It’s a feeling of freedom that’s hard to explain,” said Richard.
“Mama Lee” and Golden Years on Deck
Lee Wachtstetter, nicknamed “Mama Lee,” also chose the sea as her home. Lee is a widow from Florida, in her seventies, who moved to the luxury ship Crystal Serenity after her husband passed away. What started as a single cruise turned into a full life at sea: over 15 years on deck, with a crew that knows her by name and a schedule that takes her all over the world.
“Instead of sitting at home waiting for grandchildren, I meet new people every day,” she told a local newspaper. “I have meals, a doctor nearby, entertainment, and most importantly a never-ending view.” Her story has inspired many retirees worldwide who are looking for an alternative way to age not in a nursing home, but with champagne at sunset.
A Floating Neighborhood
This phenomenon has also led to new ventures where the ship is not just a mode of transport but an actual community. The most notable is “MS The World,” a luxury residential ship with 165 private residences. Passengers buy an apartment, sometimes costing millions of dollars, rather than a cruise ticket. Residents can stay on board year-round or join only part of the itinerary.
Daily life on this ship resembles a floating neighborhood: there are restaurants, a country club, a gym, a small supermarket, cultural events, and even residents’ meetings. Some residents work remotely; others simply travel the world without leaving their “home.”
Recently, other initiatives have emerged, such as the “Villa Vie Odyssey,” offering smaller apartments and a community of residents from around the world. “It’s a bit like living in a kibbutz on the water,” said one resident. “Everyone knows everyone, and we wake up every few days in a new port.”
Apartment prices start at $129,000 for an interior cabin for 15 years, plus monthly entry fees $2,000 per person per month for double occupancy, $3,000 for single occupancy.
One resident who purchased such a cabin is 77-year-old Sharon Lane from California. Lane will live on the ship for the next 15 years. “I no longer have to do laundry. I don’t need to buy groceries; life on the ship is much cheaper than life in Southern California,” she says.
Life on the ship also includes a vibrant social life with music performances, professional dancers, and local artists performing at the ports of call.
New Trends: Sea Nomads
While living on a ship was once considered a niche for the wealthy, it is now expanding. The main reason is the combination of two global forces: an aging population and the rise of digital nomadism.
Remote work allows people to work from anywhere in the world even at sea. Satellite internet has become fast and reliable, making it possible to both enjoy and work on a ship.
Additionally, baby boomer retirees are seeking alternatives to traditional housing. Instead of entering an expensive nursing home, some choose a long-term cruise providing meals, cleaning, basic medical care, and companionship at a cost not necessarily higher.
The Cost and Challenges of Life at Sea
Despite the romance, life on a ship is not perfect. Health is a challenge not every ship is equipped for medical emergencies, and serious problems require flying to land. Bureaucratic aspects such as insurance, taxes, or mail also require creative solutions.
The sense of belonging may also be affected. People living constantly on the move sometimes find it difficult to form long-term relationships or feel “at home.” Others report physical disorientation after months at sea, even walking on a sidewalk can cause slight dizziness.
Nevertheless, many who chose this path say they would not go back. “I live the dream,” says Salcedo. “No lawn to mow, no water bills, just sun, sea, and endless life.”
More Than a Trend A Philosophy of Freedom
Life on a cruise ship represents a new concept of residence, freedom, and boundaries. For some, home is no longer a physical place it is a state of mind, a space that moves with the person from place to place. The constant movement between ports, the ability to wake up every morning to a new view, and the knowledge that there is no need to “tidy up” create a sense of liberty hard to find on land. For some, it extends youth; for others, it is a dignified way to age with a spirit of adventure.
Perhaps this explains why more people are interested in such life journeys today. Some buy an apartment on a ship; others simply rent a cabin for an indefinite period. The common factor is the desire to break free, see the world, and feel that life itself not just the scenery is in motion.
As one resident of “The World” ship said:
“Some people seek an anchor, some seek the sea. I found both in the same place.”
