superyacht stewardess blog

Housekeeping Articles

What is Turndown Service

by Kylie O'Brien | Mar 22, 2024 | Housekeeping , Yacht Crew Training

Welcome aboard, the epitome of luxury and refinement in the realm of superyachts. As we sail through the azure waters, our commitment to unparalleled hospitality shines brightly, encapsulated in the timeless tradition of Turndown Service.

The Superyacht Guest Compendium

by Kylie O'Brien | Dec 9, 2019 | Housekeeping

The superyacht guest compendium provides guests with vital information, in a simple, elegant and effective way.

Small Space – Storage Solutions

by Kylie O'Brien | Sep 12, 2019 | Housekeeping

As a super yacht stewardess you are required to be very creative with your small space storage solutions. The storage area needs to be clean, dry and easily accessible…. Which, let’s face it, is quite often NOT the case…..

How to Reduce Plastic Use

by Kylie O'Brien | May 9, 2019 | Housekeeping , The Superyacht

How to Clean a Dishwasher

by Guest Author | Mar 21, 2019 | Housekeeping

How to Clean a Dishwasher. Dishwasher maintenance is far from glamorous, but it is something that every yacht stewardess must do on a regular basis

How to Clean a Washing Machine

by Guest Author | Mar 3, 2019 | Housekeeping

As a part of our March  Maintenace Month. This article will discuss ways in which you as a superyacht stewardess can maintain the equipment onboard the yacht to a high standard. Starting with How to Clean a Washing Machine.

Cleaning with Vinegar

by Kylie O'Brien | Apr 4, 2017 | Housekeeping

Vinegar is like the super cleaning product of the yachting world, and it can be used for all kinds of things. In this article, we will explore some do’s and don’ts of cleaning with vinegar.

Why a Superyacht Stewardess Should Not Flush Tampons Down the Toilet

by Kylie O'Brien | May 3, 2016 | Housekeeping

Why a superyacht stewardess should not flush tampons down the toilet The menstruation cycle of a woman is a normal monthly occurrence. However, it is not a topic that is readily discussed amongst men, especially not seafaring men. Nonetheless, in the Superyacht industry, it is the engineers (typically men) who have to sort out the problem when women dispose of their feminine hygiene products in correctly.

How to Clean Vomit From Carpet

by Kylie O'Brien | Apr 4, 2016 | Housekeeping

Both guests and crew may succumb to seasickness at some point in the journey, so Every Superyacht stewardess will need to know how to clean vomit.

How to Care for Lacquered Wood

by Kylie O'Brien | Mar 30, 2015 | Housekeeping

How to Care for Lacquered Wood. A lacquered wood surface is a surface that has been painted with a resin type substance which leaves the furniture with a hard, highly polished and lustrous surface.

How to Detail Clean a Cabin

by Kylie O'Brien | Mar 24, 2015 | Housekeeping

How to Detail Clean a Cabin. Detailing, or detail clean, is to clean the fine points, specifics, technicalities and subject. It means basically to clean thoroughly.

Laundry Instructions

by Kylie O'Brien | Mar 20, 2015 | Housekeeping

As a Superyacht stewardess, there is just no way of getting around NOT doing the laundry! This is probably not the most glamorous subject to talk about, but it’s a subject that has caused me a lot of grief over the years.

How to Care for Fine Art

by Kylie O'Brien | Mar 18, 2015 | Housekeeping

How to Care for Fine Art. Superyacht stewardess requires proficiency in areas of housekeeping, knowledge of fine materials and technical skills associated with the maintenance of a super yacht interior.

Easy Ironing Tips

by Kylie O'Brien | Mar 12, 2015 | Housekeeping

Easy Ironing Tips. In general most people don’t learn to iron properly until they leave home and it is one of those household chores that you either love or hate; furthermore it is a never-ending daily chore that a stewardess must face. Below are 10 tried and tested ways on how to save time ironing:

How to Clean Glass and Mirrors Whilst Maintaining Your Sanity.

by Kylie O'Brien | Mar 10, 2015 | Housekeeping

How to Clean Glass and Mirrors Whilst Maintaining Your Sanity. Cleaning glass and mirrors can be a real nightmare. Here are some useful tips that will leave your glass and mirrors streak free and sparkling.

Wardrobe Management

by Kylie O'Brien | Mar 5, 2015 | Housekeeping

Wardrobe Management. As a super yacht stewardess you should have this routine so well organized that nothing will faze her cool calm demeanor.

How to Launder Bodily Fluids

by Kylie O'Brien | Sep 30, 2014 | Housekeeping

We protect our clothes as well as our carpets with the hope that they attract no stains. However, try as we might, accidents can happen and in a flash, we spill juice or coffee on our clothes and rugs.

There are other stains that are more difficult to remove and they include blood and pet urine, which can really stink and mess up our carpets.

How to Clean Leather Furniture.

by Kylie O'Brien | Jun 3, 2012 | Housekeeping

Cleaning leather doesn’t have to be a difficult task….I believe less is more and if it’s just general cleaning then try the method below.

The Stewardess Bible

Housekeeping perfection – module three.

This book has been written on the premise that the super yacht stewardess requires proficiency in areas of housekeeping, knowledge of fine materials and technical skills associated with the maintenance of a super yacht interior. The super yacht industry demands highly skilled professionals who are able and educated enough to handle such a task.

The book presents the types of expertise required to fulfil the duties of a housekeeping stewardess: housekeeping procedures, yacht operational procedures and technical operations.

Part one is geared towards the managerial aspect of the job, covering the mind-set of a housekeeper, how to stay focused on the job, housekeeping operational procedures and guest relations.

Part two deals with laundry operational procedures, including crew uniform management, equipment maintenance inventory techniques and difficult stain removal.

Part Three and four is dominated by the technical details; discussing in depth the array of materials found in a superyacht interior and how to maintain them.

The Appendix is a collection of tools, tips and tricks that will allow the stewardess to fulfil her duties with ease. Included in this section you will find checklists, sample inventories and work lists.

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My Experience As A Superyacht Stewardess

Welcome to my Stewardess blog!

I’m Angelique. I left home at age 20 to travel and work on mega yachts, as you may know, if you’ve been reading my blog.

I’m delighted I completed this job since it allowed me to travel to the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and Australia extensively. I had a lot of experiences, therefore I’m glad to be through. I’m no longer employed in this field. Now that I’m married and raising a family, my life is taking a totally different turn than it did while I was working as a stewardess.

On my blogs, this is the query that is asked the most frequently. In order to address all of your questions in one location, I decided to do a Q&A. I thus invited you to post queries about sailing on my blog. Let’s begin.

Where to begin was a subject of some debate. I’ll thus start there.

How do you enter the stewardess or sailing world? Where do I begin?

You enroll in STCW training. Without completing STCW training, you cannot work on any boat. The STCW training covers both fire safety and water safety; in short, you’re responsible for other people’s lives as well as that of your guests, yourself, and of course the staff surrounding you. Understanding safety precautions is crucial.

I completed the training in one week and learned all I needed to know about security, including first aid, fire safety, and water safety. If you want to be anything higher up than a stewardess, such as an engineer, captain, or someone else, you can take further training. There are several other courses you must take. But as a stewardess, I was only required to get my STCW; any additional coursework I completed was optional and added nothing to my resume.

The STCW course is required. You can then seek employment after completing your coursework and proceed in a more or less direct manner. After finishing school, I moved to Cape Town and did an STCW course, and started applying for employment. I went to several of the docks and handed out my resume, and I also applied online. I also participated in a few Facebook groups, which provided information and occasionally posted job openings. After applying to several positions, I finally found my first job online. Once you land your first job, other opportunities present themselves and are considerably simpler. But even though gaining that initial experience might be incredibly challenging, everyone eventually receives their first bow.

In other words, you have to enroll in a course, and then once you pass it, you have to apply for a job. So that’s all.

There are four questions that are comparable to this one, then.

What time should you set off on your travel and is it worthwhile? What to anticipate How did the chance come about, and what gave you the guts to seize it? Before you went, did you have anything scheduled, or is this a last-minute chance?

I had the aim of leaving Johannesburg to go work on the super yachts, which sort of answers all four of those questions. When he was younger, my oldest brother did it, which is how I got the concept. Additionally, it was something I wanted to attempt and did. In essence, I departed Johannesburg and traveled to Cape Town. And I was aware that I had registered for my course in Cape Town on a particular day. After finishing my education, I started applying for employment. I thus had it planned, but I had no work lined up. I had just signed up for the course.

It was unplanned. It was quite impromptu because I just purchased a one-way ticket a month or two prior to leaving. However, I had the course scheduled, so I was prepared.

How did the chance come about, and what gave you the guts to seize it?

I remarked that I was certain I wanted to travel abroad. I also intended to relocate to Durban. My brother then suggested that I give sailing a try. I finished. It excelled. He then assisted me in scheduling the course. Additionally, it had superb sound. It sounded like something I would take pleasure in accomplishing. So my brother led the way for me, and yes, that’s how I learned about it and entered it.

What did you do every day as a stewardess? How many hours would you put in? Is it challenging?

Let’s just say that you put in a lot of time and effort. However, there were also times when you would receive time off and work a regular nine-to-five. It all depended on whether or not the boss was present. If the boss wasn’t present, your hours would be pretty standard nine-to-five; you would clock off at five and be free to leave the boat and do whatever you pleased. so long as you were in port and not out at sea. Of course, working for a boss meant working more than 16 hours per day, seven days per week, for months on end, and on occasion, four months straight of 16-hour days. Thus, it varies. I received a reasonable amount of each. There were times when I worked so hard and was always inside that I would go for weeks without seeing the sun. Despite working 16-hour days, you would always have an eight-hour break. However, that may be divided into two during the day and six at night. The amount of sleep you receive at night may only be six, but you still have a two-hour respite during the day. No matter what, you must get eight hours of sleep. Yes, it varies. At times, it might just be a regular nine-to-five, sometimes even shorter. On the vessels I worked on, we frequently received half days off. And that was great. However, there were also times when you wouldn’t be working 16 hours a day, seven days a week, for months on end. Thus, it has a reasonable amount of each.

What did your everyday schedule entail?

It again depends on whether or not your employer is in charge. It may become rather intense when you have a boss on. When they are finished, if they had a shower, you must go and dry it off because you were serving them the entire while you were cleaning the bathroom. You would have to prepare breakfast for them, serve it, be on call for them, wash laundry, continue to do crew laundry, set up lunch for the crew, and clean up lunch. Yes, it was somewhat taxing if Boss was present. The cleaning up of everything they left behind was incessant; you were always at their service. Fold the toilet paper when they’re finished cleaning up the bathroom. As I previously mentioned, if they have a shower, you must enter, dry it off when it’s wet, and visit each room. When the boss was on, you had to do it for every visitor; if there were five, you had to do it for five people. When the boss was off, you were free to do anything you needed to on the yacht.

Additionally, you could have needed to tidy up the cabinet or prepare a room in case the boss came on. If the boss went off, things might have changed. It was considerably more relaxed and laid back than a typical nine-to-five in the hotel industry. However, while the boss was in charge, there was simply no time for breathing; it was all or nothing.

Can you do yachting for a one- to two-year period?

Yes, but only for a period of two years. By season, it changes. Thus, the summer season is around six months long. And after that, you might decide to spend another summer in the Caribbean during the winter because many boats travel there. As a result, they enjoy summer all year. Alternatively, you may just spend the winter aboard the boat by doing a winter season. It may be completed in between one and two years. But as you advance in the field, your pay increases and, in my opinion, your quality of life improves. This is because, when you start out as a junior, you get all the undesirable jobs, just like in any other field. And certainly, there are many more benefits to moving ahead in the field. So I suppose that the longer you stick out, the more your career will develop into being a chief stewardess or whatever you want to accomplish. And certainly, it’s a little easier on you than constantly acting like a junior. But you can do it for a year or two. For three years, I did it.

Okay, this query was frequently asked. Are you treated nicely by your bosses? Were the customers courteous or unkind? Did you communicate with the clients frequently?

It depends, as I indicated; your boss or anybody else who joins the team might be the friendliest individuals imaginable. They could be the most impolite individuals ever. There are two different kinds of boats that you may work on: one is private, meaning that the owner is the one who owns the vessel. And then he starts talking about himself, his family, or his friends. He, therefore, owns the boat. Charter is the second. Whereas people hire boats for charter boats.

The standards must be quite high if people are leasing the boat since they will undoubtedly host parties and demand more because they are spending so much money to do so. Of course, private yachts must also meet high standards, but chartering a boat is significantly more labor since the expectations are often much higher. The advantage of charters is that you constantly encounter fresh groups of passengers, but with privately owned vessels, the owner is essentially constant. With charter, you also receive a lot of tips from people who are constantly trying to provide five-star service in order to earn high tips.

But in essence, it varies. Some people are so impolite that they will just snap their fingers and demand food, regardless of the fact that they’ll damage something you just cleaned. Even if some people are quite rude, you still receive a tip. Some individuals are kind. I’ve lived with several lovely families who were quite welcoming to me. They address me by name, but I’ve also encountered some really rude people who have just snapped their fingers. Get me a drink, kind of. Therefore, it depends on who you choose, but if you wind up with a decent family-owned yacht, it will be well worth it. You have struck the lottery if you can find a decent job, a good family boat, and a good crew since it’s really difficult to find all three. It would be a really delightful and enjoyable experience, but often, they claim that you either have to accept having a lousy staff or bad owners since you seldom have a good crew, a good owner, or excellent visitors.

I’ve had my fair share of both excellent and bad owners, so it really just depends. If you have excellent owners, it is so worth it because they value you, call you by your name, and even darling, allow you to take time off. They are simply decent people. The bad ones deplete you. Therefore, it depends, but you do communicate with the client. Again, it depends. Some clients want to converse with you and get to know you, while for others, you simply greet them with a good morning. What can I get you? Sir, may I clean your room? a certain level of vitality. If a good family wants to get to know you, they treat you like a visitor rather than an employee. It is a lot of fun.

Okay, the following query is: Was the remuneration satisfactory? What sort of income do you receive as a group on pay?

The money is rather excellent, but I have no idea what you consider to be good and I have no idea what your current wage is. I believe it is excellent. Which explains why many stewardesses and deckhand crews continue to work in the field. I began out as a new green, or Greenie as the crew would say. My income was 45K per month (ZAR), which is around average, although I’m not sure. Although most of the boats I’ve been on were 45K, I believe certain vessels do pay you 40K. Since that is typical pay, that is how much you are paid each month. And if you did charter boats, you would receive gratuities from customers who hire the boat, as I said. And you would receive a lot of tips if you received any. In other words, everyone who rents a boat is expected to tip 10% of the increased boat fee.

You are required to tip the ship when we did charter, but I’m not sure of the specifics, so don’t take my word for it. Yes, you are working a little bit more because these folks are hiring the boat, but it was still much better. As I stated, they demand a lot and have high standards, but you also occasionally receive a big tip; for example, for a week’s charter, I may receive about 15K in tips. Depending on the individual, you might make a lot of money by, for example, having one family come on for, say, two weeks or 10 days, then another family comes on for another four days, another family comes on for another month, and so on. Each family that comes on will tip you. Moreover, your hourly wage. I did work on private yachts, earning simply my regular 45K, and I still consider it to be a respectable wage.

The more you advance, the more money you’ll make. Therefore, it depends on your position on the boat. The compensation is often decent, but you are making a lot of sacrifices to be at sea. Of course, the tougher the task, the more credentials you need for the position, and the higher the salary. You occasionally spend a considerable amount of time away from land, away from your family, and with little opportunity for social interaction. If you work as a stewardess, you are always working indoors. It is a highly demanding lifestyle, but the pay is fantastic. So that’s why I believe a lot of stewardesses and deckhand crews continue to do it—for the money.

Do you meet people on the yacht? Did you also have to share a bathroom, a room, etc.? And how did the personnel seem?

You develop friendships with your crew, of course. A happy crew means a happy boat on many of the boats I worked on, but there were other boats where that effort paid off. On other boats, though, the crew wasn’t as important, and it was a really difficult and unpleasant experience to be on such vessels. A happy staff, therefore, means a happy boat. However, it goes without saying that you make friends on board. For me, some of the finest moments have been spent with the crew, and I still have friends with whom I communicate frequently from the boats. They became some of my closest pals.

Are you sharing a bathroom or a room? You do. In the crew mess, you both share a cabin. You have a bunk bed, a single bunk bed, and often one other person uses the bathroom. All of my other boats were just me and another person, with the exception of one when I had three in one room and shared with two other females. However, there is a bathroom and a bunk bed. The entrance area also has a mess caused by the staff. There is a little kitchen there, and there is where you all gather to have supper. You eat there, of course. There is generally a TV as well. So the answer is that you do share with others. The Captain always had his own room.

What aspect of sailing was the worst?

This is a really intriguing query. There were many negative aspects, but they were outweighed by the positive ones. The sacrifice you have to make to work, to be away from your family, and to return home after work is, in my opinion, the worst aspect. You can’t make a lot of sacrifices and be among your pals. The pay is decent. Therefore, occasionally money can make up for such issues. However, I placed a lot higher value on my mental well-being than I did on money. I gave it a go and kept hopping boats in the hope that they would be safer, but they weren’t.

I thus believe that it was just the industry in general for me. I wasn’t overjoyed. Because I was working so hard, I wasn’t thinking about myself and I was eating a lot of junk food. Since I was working 16 hours a day in the midst of the ocean, I found it difficult to maintain a healthy balance. Before you can please yourself, you have to please so many other people. And I wasn’t really into it. The same as with every employment, there are many advantages and disadvantages.

After asking this question, I’ll probably end the conversation. Just end it on a positive note. I believe I’ve addressed most of the questions I intended to address.

One asked about your favorite memory. And what aspect of the overall experience was the best?

Traveling was certainly the highlight of the whole trip for me. the locations I was able to visit and the experiences I created. It was great, even though it was just with myself. It was wonderful to be able to visit these locations, and I don’t have many better memories. There are both good and terrible things about it, but looking back, I can chuckle. However, if you have a nice crew, you will always have wonderful recollections. I believe that because you don’t have many days off, your vacations were much more thrilling.

In order to get from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, you must do an Atlantic crossing. And that was unquestionably a memorable event. That was absurd. My bucket list was definitely crossed off with it.

There are numerous recollections, but I can’t think of just one. It was both incredibly difficult and highly fulfilling. Being surrounded by so many diverse individuals with diverse emotions in a small, cramped environment is difficult mentally, in my opinion. You must be fairly powerful and guard your energy. And I didn’t always do it well. There were times when I just wanted to abandon everything. I’ve also always believed that the grass is always greener on the opposite side. Ocean blue on the other side isn’t always the case, though, for me. Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that this position is not for me.

I do commend those who work in the field for more than five years. Well done, they make progress. If you still want to do it after reading all of this, then take the leap of faith and go ahead and do it. I advise everyone who wants to do it. Life is fantastic as a stewardess.

It is possible anywhere in the world. Everything is covered for you when you’re on the boat, including your lodging, food, and amenities, making it a fantastic opportunity to work and save money. So if you want it to be your job, it’s a terrific industry to work your way up in. It’s also a great opportunity to save money, travel, and see the globe.

The STCW course is thus a wise investment if you want to make this your career, and you can quickly recoup the cost of the course from your earnings at sea.

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Guide to Becoming a Yacht Stewardess Working on Superyachts

This working on superyachts guide is a authored by Carryn.

Working on superyachts seems glamorous, right? Your office overlooks crystal clear waters and your job involves stepping into the life of the rich and famous.

Not to mention, you get paid a fortune whilst doing so! But, as with most things in life, there’s more to the yachting industry than what meets the eye.

This guide details all the steps to getting a job working on a super yacht and what life is really like as a yacht stewardess — the good, the bad and the ugly!

Table of Contents

Before I Became a Yacht Stewardess

After 6 months working on a superyacht, is it easy to get a job working on superyachts, connections within the yachting industry, other qualities needed to become a yacht stewardess, the salary for a yacht stewardness, 1. do you want to become a yacht stewardess or a deckhand, role of a yacht stewardess working on a super yacht, role of a deckhand, other positions available for working on superyachts, 2. requirements for working on superyachts, 3. where to get a job: the mediterranean or the caribbean, 4. visa requirements for working on superyachts, 5. working on a private yacht vs a chartered yacht, 6. how to land that job as a yacht stewardess, register with yacht crew agencies, networking with other crew and yacht stewardesses, how much does it cost to work on a super yacht, what is life really like working on superyachts, how i got my job working on a superyacht, 1. how much time do you have to get a job, 2. do you believe in yourself, 3. are you ready to work your ass off every single day, how to become a ski instructor almost anywhere in the world, how to be a travel nanny and work as you travel, how to be an au pair in spain + tips for getting a job, how to work abroad & travel the world, how you can work abroad without experience so you can travel longer.

After graduating from college in South Africa, I jumped straight into the working world and started “adulting”.

After 3 months of long, hard work, with very little pay, I decided that I was tired of being broke and living in debt.

In an attempt to see just how versatile my skills were, I quit my job in search of greener pastures on the other side of the world, France. Here, I began what I thought would be a lifelong career as a yacht stewardess. I was intrigued by the idea of working on superyachts, how glamorous it all was and of course the MONEY.

Working as a yacht stewardess changed my life for the better. When I left for France I was a young, naive college graduate who struggled to find a balance between traveling and being financially independent.

6 months later, which is a lot earlier than I’d expected, I decided to throw in the towel. The money I’d made was amazing yet never gave me the job satisfaction I was actually looking for. I returned home with a new-found love for my country, my family and the smaller things in life.

Working on superyachts put my life into perspective.

It was an extremely personal time filled with self-reflection and allowed me to appreciate and value my own personal skills and work ethic.

Working on Superyachts: The Basics

A superyacht is a large luxury boat that’s longer than 24 meters. These yachts are owned by the rich and famous and often make their way between the Caribbean and the Mediterranean waters.

These superyachts need crew to provide them with that 1st class service. And this is where the thousands of yachties come into play.

People often confuse working on superyachts with that of working on cruise ships. No, they are not the same! Working on a superyacht is a far more intimate job. There can be two to twelve guests on board and you’re at their beck and call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

It’s a grueling job that will have you working long hours in confined spaces, but the rewards are far greater than those of the cruise ships.

Yes and no.

The yachting industry is a difficult one to get into, but once you have your foot in the door, you’re guaranteed future work and better positions. However, getting that first job working on a superyacht is the hardest part.

You will struggle to secure a job in advance as most captains and crew agencies want to meet you in person before they hire you. As a result, you need to go to the yachting hubs where you will spend your time job hunting.

Securing a job takes time. For some, it’s a matter of days, but for most, it takes weeks or even months.

The saying “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” never rang so true as it does in the yachting world. If you have connections in the industry, you shouldn’t have a problem getting a job as a yacht stewardess.

The yachting industry is a small one and referrals are the easiest way to land your first job.

Owners want young, good-looking crew running around after them. As a yacht stewardess, your uniform consists of short skirts and tight shirts and you need to look presentable and professional at all times. If you fit this profile of a yacht stewardess, finding a job working on a superyacht will be a lot easier for you.

Your personality and drive also play a huge factor. Captains and owners want outgoing, energetic and friendly crew who will get on well with the rest of the team.

You have very little personal space and whilst conflicts are bound to happen, you will have to master the art of the “smile and walk away” and avoid confrontations with other crew and guests.

So yes, getting a job working on superyachts isn’t easy, but if you have the above points covered, I bet you could get a job!

The starting salary for a yacht stewardess or deckhand is roughly 2,500€ per month. This is with no experience and excludes 10% tips  — which you receive on chartered trips. These tips could quite easily match your base salary. And it’s all tax-free!

You have no rent to pay as you live on board the boat. Your meals are prepared for you by the qualified chef, and you don’t need to purchase any groceries or toiletries.

EVERYTHING is covered. What I saved in 5 months whilst working on superyachts has taken me a full year to make as an English Teacher in Korea !

Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it?

How to Work on a Superyacht: 6 Steps

Each of these superyachts needs 6-10 crew who all work together to ensure the smooth running of the luxury vessel. There are many positions available ranging from engineers to chefs but most crew start off as either a yacht stewardess or a deckhand.

As a yacht stewardess or stew, as it’s more commonly referred to, your main tasks are housekeeping and ensuring that the interior of the yacht is properly maintained. You need to provide the highest standards of hospitality and ensure that the guests are taken care of. To put it bluntly, you’re a glorified maid wearing a cute outfit!

Daily Tasks of a Yacht Stewardess

As a yacht stewardess, your daily tasks whilst working on a private yacht include meticulous cleaning of the interior of the boat such as the cabins, toilets and living areas. You’re responsible for all the laundry, ironing as well as flower arranging, and table setting for all meals.

You need to provide a silver service dining experience and make world-class cocktails whenever the guests request. If there are children on board your yacht, you may also be asked to keep them entertained whilst ensuring all your other tasks are completed.

Working Hours

Your days start when the first guest awakes and end when the last guest goes to bed! If they’re out clubbing until 4 am, you’ll have to stay up to welcome them back on board and perhaps serve them drinks upon their return.

There are no free weekends if you’re on charter and you rotate shifts with the other crew, who also work just as hard. Because of this, the hours are long and tiring and if you have demanding guests, you could feel completely broken by the end of it.

The workload and the sort of work changes depending on the season, whether you have guests on board and any maintenance issues.

The deckhand’s position is more geared for men and includes maintaining the exterior of the yacht as well as all the deck equipment. You scrub the boat, top to bottom and it’s a physically demanding role. Tasks include cleaning the engine, painting, and varnishing the deck. You’re in charge of the fenders and ropes as well as the tenders and jet skis.

Perhaps you’re a qualified chef, engineer or beautician. These jobs are also available but with no prior yachting experience, you will struggle to find positions available.

You may want to apply as either a yacht stewardess or deckhand first, and highlight these additional skills in your CV. This is because there are more opportunities for stews and deckhands. Captains will also be reluctant to hire a chef or engineer who’s doesn’t have experience working on superyachts as the demands are different from those of the normal day job.

To find a job working on superyachts, there are a few basic requirements that you need to meet.

STCW stands for Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers. There are 5 modules that need to be completed within this required course. These include:

• Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities (PSSR)
• Fire Fighting
• Personal Survival Techniques (PST)
• Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (PDSD)

Eng 1 (Seafarer Medical Certificate)

This is an exam to ensure you don’t suffer from any existing medical condition that may deter you from performing your job. You’ll be required to take a urine sample and a doctor will perform a physical exam to ensure you have no issues with your sight or hearing.

Additional Courses to Work on a Superyacht

Once you’ve secured your position, your chief stewardess or captain will conduct proper in-house training to ensure you know how to work on a yacht and complete the tasks to their standards.

The below courses will prepare you for your new job and will add value to your yachting CV, but they are costly and are not a requirement.

• Stewardess courses where they cover interior care skills, silver service, table setting, cocktail service as well as flower arranging.
• Food Safety Certificate Level 2 . This certification applies to crew working on MLC compliant yachts. Service personnel such as chefs and yacht stewardesses working out of the galley will need this food hygiene certification.
• Powerboat Level 2 allows you to ride the tender and is beneficial for deckhands.

There are 2 yachting seasons: The Mediterranean and the Caribbean Season.

Each of these areas has yachting hubs where crew base themselves when looking for work. These towns are filled with aspiring yachties all gunning for the same position. Once the season is complete, your yacht may move to warmer waters or dock in the harbor until the winter season has passed.

The Mediterranean Yachting Season

The yachting season in the Mediterranean starts as early as April where these superyachts start crewing up and the season continues until August. The main hubs to look for work in the Mediterranean include Antibes in France and Palma de Mallorca in Spain.

The Caribbean Yachting Season

The Caribbean season is active all year round with September to March being the busiest months. Ft. Lauderdale in Florida is the main hub which attracts hundreds of crew every year. From here the boats move toward Antigua and St. Maarten in the Caribbean and as well as the Bahamas where guests enjoy the crystal-clear waters and tropical islands.

• Caribbean: If you’re heading to the United States of America, you’ll need a B1/B2 Visa.
• Mediterranean: A Schengen visa is required if you are going to France or Spain.
• Seaman’s Book: Once you find a job working on a super yacht, you need to arrange a seaman’s book. This is recognized as proof that you are working on a yacht and is also a compulsory document when applying for a transit visa.

There are two kinds of superyachts: Private yachts and chartered yachts.

Private Yachts

Private yachts are used exclusively by the owner.

In some cases, the owner may use the yacht a few times a season and so the crew will have a more relaxed schedule. But don’t take this for granted. I spent 5 months working on a private yacht and had guests on board every day!

Chartered Yachts

Chartered yachts are hired by groups of people for a shorter duration.

You usually have a day or two to get the yacht ready for each charter. This means that the guests are always changing, and the routes are very busy. However, it’s standard for the crew to receive 10-20% tips from the guests. Not too bad if you ask me!

So you’ve completed your yachting courses and you’ve decided whether you’re going to the Mediterranean or the Caribbean. Flights are booked, and visas have been organized. Now, you need to get a job working on a superyacht.

Find a Crew House for the First Week After Your Arrival

These crew houses are like hostels catering for new yachties. They are slightly more expensive than other accommodation you can find. However, it’s worth staying in a crew house for the first week while you try to find your way around your new surroundings.

If you’re heading to the South of France, I highly recommend “The Crew Grapevine” which is where I started off.

The crew houses are generally a stone’s throw away from the harbor and the staff working there understand the yachting world and will help you find your feet.

The owners of these crew houses are also highly respected in the industry and if you make a good impression, they may put in a good word for you with a captain they know. The crew houses also include free printing which is great when you have to print out hundreds of CVs.

Reserving Your Spot at a Crew House

These crew houses are extremely popular and because of the uncertainty of the yachting industry, you cannot book your spot in advance. Some people land a job working on a private yacht after 2 days and so they leave the crew house immediately, others only leave after 2 months!

The best way to get into a crew house is to keep in contact with them when you start organizing your trip.

Introduce yourself and let them know your plans. Then, a week before your arrival, mail them each day to see if they have openings available. I received an email confirming my booking the day I landed in France. Talk about cutting it fine!

After your first week, you would know your way around and would have met other yachties. Together you can rent an apartment for the rest of your stay as this is a far more affordable option.

Finding Daywork on a Yacht

Daywork is temporary work on board a superyacht where you help the other crew complete their duties, but you don’t stay on board the boat.

Daywork on a yacht is a great way of earning money and building up your CV whilst looking for a permanent job as a yacht stewardess.

You get paid $100 – $150 for the days’ work and this should be enough to keep you going for a few extra days.

Dock Walking

As the name suggests, dock walking involves walking through the marinas in search of work on a yacht. With a big, friendly smile on your face, you approach the many superyachts and hand your CV over to the crew.

You’ll most likely face rejection as the boats will have crew but hold your head up high and keep going! For tips on how to create the perfect CV, check this post out.

Security at some of these docks has become extremely tight and dock walking is not allowed in some marinas. This is especially true in the US so perhaps you need to look at some of the below options when looking for work on a yacht.

Yachts are interesting locations to work; you’re often plunged into very formal environments, so professionalism is key.

Yacht crew agencies are often the first port of call for captains looking for a yacht stewardess or deckhand. Registering with these crew agencies can be done through an online application where you include your work experience, qualifications, current location and contact details. This is followed by an interview which needs to be done in person.

This is the easiest way to get a job working on superyachts but if you don’t make an impression, they won’t remember you.

Making connections within the industry is of utmost importance when looking for a job as a yacht stewardess. Put yourself out there and find a common interest with other crew you meet. If they like you, they’ll pass your details onto their captains.

But of course, be aware that every new yachtie is looking to make these connections. You need to stand out from the rest and avoid hanging out in spots that only attract new crew.

Getting a job as a yacht stewardess can take days, weeks and even months. However, I firmly believe that this is dependent on the individual. I’ve met people who’ve invested all the time and money into working on superyachts and after a few months, they’ve had to return home as they were unsuccessful in finding a job and so their funds ran dry.

The competition is strong and when you’re at these yachting hubs, you may feel overwhelmed by the number of newbies in the industry. But, your luck can change in an instant.

Getting into the yachting industry is not cheap as your initial expenses are NOT covered. You need to support yourself financially until you get a job working on a superyacht. It’s a big investment, but one that you can pay back within your first month of work.

Cost for these courses vary between countries and all amounts below are estimates.

These expenses include the following:

• STCW: $600-$1,200 for the 5 courses ($900 average)
• ENG1 Medical: $80
• Flights to the yachting hubs in the Mediterranean or Caribbean: $1,000
• Visa: $60-$120
• Accommodation for your first week: $275
• Meals for your first week: $200
• Additional expenses: $100
• Total expense = $2,645

Bearing in mind that it can take weeks, if not months to find a job, your cost for food and accommodation could be considerably higher.

Your first season working on a superyacht will always be tough. Because you have no experience, you’ll most likely take the first job you can find as beggars can’t be choosers. You won’t really know what you’ve signed up for until you start working.

You’re the junior stewardess and everyone else has put in the hours and earned their stripes, now it’s your turn!

You may work a bit longer than the rest, you’ll be put in the laundry room and spend the entire day ironing and you’ll be the one waking up early. You’ll travel to exotic locations with the most stunning scenery. But you’ll only enjoy these views from the portholes of the cabins as there’s cleaning to be done.

But after you have one season under your belt, you’ll have more connections and can pick and choose what sort of yacht you want to work on. You will be able to find out which boats have easier guests and schedules and you won’t need to jump at the first job offer you get.

RELATED: 10 Jobs Abroad With Accommodation (& Without Experience!)

I started my yachting career in Antibes, France. After 3 days of dock walking, I was feeling extremely unmotivated by the sheer amount of crew looking for work.

I had invested so much time and money into getting to France, and financially I only had 2 weeks to find work before I was broke!

It was a beautiful sunny day and a lot of people were going to the beach to relax after a busy week of dock walking. I was torn between taking the morning off or continuing my search for work as a yacht stewardess. Reluctantly, I decided to first go to a few crew agencies and see if I could chat with one of their staff.

I must have made a good impression because two hours later I received a phone call for an interview with a captain. After a successful chat, I accepted the position and a few hours later I was on a train to Italy to start my career as a yacht stewardess working on a private yacht.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Commit to Working on Superyachts

It’s important to put pressure on yourself and set deadlines. Financially I only had two weeks to support myself. This was cutting it fine, but I feel that this pressure is what lead to me finding a job after only 4 days.

You’ll face rejection but will need to keep pushing through in order to secure a job. You’ll also have to justify the initial investment and if you don’t believe that you can cut it in the yachting industry, then perhaps you need to look for something less risky

Some days I worked for up to 18 hours and had very little sleep. My nails and fingers were scarred with blisters and cuts from washing so many crystal glasses. My skin went bad from not seeing the sun, and my legs were developing varicose veins from standing up all day.

But my crew were amazing. We all worked equally hard and supported each other on the difficult days. You might be lucky and find a sweet job with an easy schedule, however, prepare for the worst but this will only make you stronger.

In the end, my experience and the money I made was totally worth it. Think long and hard if you think you’re up for this kind of lifestyle. There are some that stick around and end up with great jobs who get extra tips and even flights to whatever country they want. It’s a fabulous job if you think you’re game for the challenges that come with it.

More Jobs Abroad

Do you have what it takes to work on a superyacht? Do you want to become a yacht stewardess? Let us know in the comments!

>>> Bio

Hey, I’m Carryn! I’m a nature enthusiast and passionate explorer who loves hiking, diving, and adventuring through new countries. My travels have taken me from the peaks of Kilimanjaro to the underwater worlds of Indonesia and have lead me to Korea where I am teaching English. I share my travel stories on my blog, Torn Tackies , where I aim to inspire people to step out of their comfort zone and explore the world that surrounds them.

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Nina Ragusa is an adventurer, messy bun master, breakfast fan, and full-time travel blogger. She's been abroad since 2011 and blogging on Where in the World is Nina? for nearly as long. Nina helps people like you move around the world while making money. She loves talking about how to work abroad and online to travel longer! Read more about Nina

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Hi Nina, thank you so much for the information. I’m looking at doing my course (again) in November. Unfortunately I didn’t pursue the yachting industry the first time I did my course as I started working on the ships. But your insight has really motivated me to try again, so thank you.

Thank you Nina for sharing your info and guiding us, i do have a question though, i am a type one diabetic, and really want to work on a yacht, i am already currently in the Hospitality industry. Do you know whether type one diabetics are allowed to work on yachts?

Great info ! Thank you so much for sharing your experience, I’m looking forward to become a stewardess, I have a question: for working in the Mediterranean Sea it doesn’t matter which Schengen visa? I might have the chance chance to do a German visa, would that work? Thank you again J+

Thank you, Nina! I am heading to Antibes on May 1st to find my first yacht job and I am super excited! I’m always reading online and checking out any information I can in order to prepare, so this blog was a prize to find as it is loaded with fantastic info!

Hope you’re having a fantastic day, wish me luck!

Yes! The best of luck 🙂

Hi nina i have already documents f Seaman book and passport Eng1, food safety and level hygiene level 2

Stcw Sdsd My probllem is only the visa i want to earn already

Can you tell me whats lacking ,

How is the procedure in landing yachts ?

I think sometimes that when i travel my own expense in goin ‘

Like france

I think its too expensive

Or i think in mind that when i applied in us embassy here in philjppines for b1b2 visa

W/out a company yet is hard for me

Coz.i didnt travel yet in any location overseas I have first in mind that i justonly denied for that

Pls can you help me my dear ffriend Can you pls.humbly assist me in my dream career I am a greenie and recently took my iyt yacht card here in manila philippines

Its been an honor to have an indtrument /way like you

On helping othera like me

I want t hear your quick Humbly help my friend

Thank you so much Nina for all of this information! You’ve made me more excited to start my yachting career. I am heading to Phuket next month to take my STCW + Stewardess course, then am hoping to head over to Antibes after to start looking for work by March 🙂

That sounds SO exciting! Have fun 🙂

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The skills needed to be a SUPER YACHT STEW

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Do you have the skills to be a great yacht stewardess? Climbing the ladder to be well on your way to Chief Stew in no time.

In this episode, we dive into the skills that you need to become the best damn yacht stewardess out there. These core skills will make you effective at your job as a SUPER STEW. They are also transferable skills as you develop them over time and take them with you as your career develops; think of them as your passport to yachting success. 

The skills necessary to be a great yacht stewardess:

• Be a team Team player : You will need to be able to pay attention and be a part of a  team that works well together 24 hours a day in stressful situations. This involves helping in other departments such as jumping into housekeeping and assisting if they need it or helping the service team in the pantry if they are busy. You will also need the ability to respect steward/ess’ personal values, opinions, and ideas and be able to listen and respond when appropriate.
• A good planner: To achieve long-term goals onboard it’s important to share the vision with the crew. Thinking and planning out strategies for improving the quality and efficiency onboard and then planning out directions from here allows for good time management and the best result.
• Good communication skills : Having the ability to communicate clearly and efficiently is a key part of being a stewardess. Within your team, you need to able to communicate well and pass on any information to your team members to ensure they are up to date on what is happening on board so everyone is in the know. When you are looking after guests you have to radio any movements to the captain, deck department, and the interior team. For example, if the guests are nearly finished breakfast and you hear them talking about watersports you radio the deck department and let them know the guests could potentially want to do water activities soon so they can prepare. Just like when the guests leave the table and head down to the swim platform you need to tell the deck department so they can have a crew member waiting. Communication is vital during service as you can imagine a chef has to prepare everything and works to specific cooking times. They don’t have eyes on the table, you’re their eyes so communicating back to the galley with any information such as how far the guests are through a course is key to a service that flows well. You will also need to communicate clearly to guests in a clear and concise manner with appropriate body language. If you get the communication element right it shows that we as stewardesses understand the needs and wants of guests.
• Be a Motivator: As a chief stewardess, you have a powerful role in motivating your team as well as ensuring you are keeping yourself motivated. Having the ability to structure a task, set goals and be a great motivator is crucial to having a positive Interior team. If you are constantly uplifting your team and encouraging them, they are going to be doing a better job than if you are complaining about tasks and not motivated yourself.
• Be A Problem solver: Being able to deal with issues that arise on a daily basis is a part of being a stewardess. A captain once said to me I don’t need you to come to me with problems I need you to come to me with a solution to the problem and I think that is relevant to being a great stewardess. You should also be able to deal with any issues in a professional matter, avoiding frustration anger, or stress.
• Be an organiser: If you are a list person, or love meetings, being OCD is a strength in a stewardess role. There is no such thing as being too organised onboard a yacht, the more organised you are the better prepared you are for likely and unlikely events. For example prepping service items such as plates, cutlery, utensils, and pulling your table decorations well before the next meal service allows you to be organized if the guests decide they want to eat earlier. This is a flow-on effect to remaining calm, not frantic when things need to happen quickly. Guests can sense when crew members are stressed just like any other person can, you need to remain calm  even at times when you have a thousand things on your to-do list. The calmest stewardesses look graceful, they are not erratic or stressed and are pleasant to be around.

+ Some other skills: Good conduct, great personal hygiene, and appearance, having a good memory and concentration skills, being punctual, having local knowledge, positive personality and can-do attitude, being honest and reliable. 

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I’m a chief stewardess with over 6 years experience working in the superyacht industry on boats up to 88m. I help aspiring yacht crew by propelling them with the know-how and tools to confidently break into the superyacht industry.

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