WHEN in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary….
The Happiest Guy in the World: What kind of person takes a cruise not for a week or a month — but for the rest of his life?
byVanderleunonJune 5, 2018
“As several of their senior friends began to spend more time on cruises than on land, my grandparents became aware of an elite cabal of sorts within the cruising subculture: passengers scattered across different cruise lines who choose to live at sea permanently. One such passenger was Mario Salcedo, or “Super Mario” as the crew of the Enchantment of the Seas affectionately calls him. For the past two decades, Mario has been a full-time resident on Royal Caribbean Cruises, accumulating over 7,300 nights at sea.”
I have never been on a cruise. Several years ago a couple we knew sailed across the N. Atlantic aboard the QE2. They told us there were quite a few people aboard who lived on the ship as their primary, and in some cases only, residence. The crew told them that Queen Mary also had such a residential contingent.
The residents were not living in the cheap cabins, either, but mostly in multi-room units. Our friends tried to compute the cost and it was staggering.
StiggsJune 5, 2018, 11:45 AM
Peak boomer
Bill in TennesseeJune 5, 2018, 11:55 AM
Life’s too short…. This sounds like a particularly cruel kind of perdition.
LeslieJune 5, 2018, 12:18 PM
I cannot think of anything more dull. Blech.
Rob De WittJune 5, 2018, 12:53 PM
As a lower-middleclass kid from a small town, it never really sank in on me until I lived in a few urban hellholes that it’s always been nice to be rich.
Lynne WolfeJune 5, 2018, 5:12 PM
There is a cruise ship called “The World” that goes from port to port to port forever and forever. It is full of ancient wealthy persons who own their own condos aboard. For many, this is the ultimate nursing home.
VanderleunJune 5, 2018, 5:12 PM
As all can see from the essay above this item, I am not a fan of cruise ships.
dhmosquitoJune 5, 2018, 6:11 PM
Whatever “floats your boat,” I guess. To me, cruise ships are like “The Strip” at Vegas: Why?
I will admit I’ve done the Alaska Marine Highway (i.e., ferryboat from Prince Rupert BC to Skagway) with a vehicle, and it’s a great way to go north & back as it’s completely “pay as you go,” and the view is exactly the same as from the huge ostentatious cruise ships. Definitely more Spartan than the cruise ship experience. One can even set up tents on deck for free.
I didn’t watch but the first few minutes of the video, Gerard, but noted that “Super Mario” seemed to be rather at risk: smoker, (possibly) heavy drinker—certainly looked that way to me, overweight, sedentary lifestyle. One is moved to wonder if his health insurance plan includes helo removal in event of MI or some other emergency. I suppose many of his cruises are on ships that do not venture all that far from shore, so perhaps flight time to the ship may not be all that long. Nevertheless, hope he enjoys that lifestyle. It’s certainly not for me, so there’s no envy here.
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
I have never been on a cruise. Several years ago a couple we knew sailed across the N. Atlantic aboard the QE2. They told us there were quite a few people aboard who lived on the ship as their primary, and in some cases only, residence. The crew told them that Queen Mary also had such a residential contingent.
The residents were not living in the cheap cabins, either, but mostly in multi-room units. Our friends tried to compute the cost and it was staggering.
Peak boomer
Life’s too short…. This sounds like a particularly cruel kind of perdition.
I cannot think of anything more dull. Blech.
As a lower-middleclass kid from a small town, it never really sank in on me until I lived in a few urban hellholes that it’s always been nice to be rich.
There is a cruise ship called “The World” that goes from port to port to port forever and forever. It is full of ancient wealthy persons who own their own condos aboard. For many, this is the ultimate nursing home.
As all can see from the essay above this item, I am not a fan of cruise ships.
Whatever “floats your boat,” I guess. To me, cruise ships are like “The Strip” at Vegas: Why?
I will admit I’ve done the Alaska Marine Highway (i.e., ferryboat from Prince Rupert BC to Skagway) with a vehicle, and it’s a great way to go north & back as it’s completely “pay as you go,” and the view is exactly the same as from the huge ostentatious cruise ships. Definitely more Spartan than the cruise ship experience. One can even set up tents on deck for free.
I didn’t watch but the first few minutes of the video, Gerard, but noted that “Super Mario” seemed to be rather at risk: smoker, (possibly) heavy drinker—certainly looked that way to me, overweight, sedentary lifestyle. One is moved to wonder if his health insurance plan includes helo removal in event of MI or some other emergency. I suppose many of his cruises are on ships that do not venture all that far from shore, so perhaps flight time to the ship may not be all that long. Nevertheless, hope he enjoys that lifestyle. It’s certainly not for me, so there’s no envy here.