Welcome aboard! Your career as a yacht stewardess is about to set sail. Let me warn you, though – this is not a job for the faint of heart.
A career as a yacht stewardess could be the perfect fit for you if you enjoy hard work, hospitality, and service. In a nutshell, the role of the stewardess is to maintain the interior of a yacht and provide five-star service to the owners and guests of the vessel. The stewardess will be expected to provide beverage and meal service, laundry, or any housekeeping needs. You are the liaison between the guests, the chef, and the captain.
So with this in mind, what qualifications does a yacht stewardess need?
Yacht Stewardess Qualifications
One of the greatest appeals of being a stewardess on a superyacht is that it doesn’t require much schooling or qualifications. Having a friendly disposition is key in this industry.
But first off, you must be a high school graduate. Then you can enroll in a training program offered by maritime schools, such as Seven Seas Preparatory Academy. Check the US Coast Guard’s accreditation list when seeking yacht stewardess training.
The training you receive will cover emergency procedures, firefighting, and deck maintenance, among other things. There is plenty of hands-on work to go around!
Note: All crew need STCW basic safety training, a five-day course, and an ENG1 medical certificate, and some yachts may also require certification in Food Safety & Hygiene, a one-day course.
STCW stands for Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping. It covers things like firefighting, first aid, and sea survival.
To obtain an ENG1, you must undergo a comprehensive top-to-toe medical assessment set by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
For highly motivated people to excel in this career, WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) is worth considering.
In addition to these factors, there are a few others to consider.
- Any hospitality or customer service involvement, especially in a five-star establishment, cruise ship, or boutique bed and breakfast, is a plus. This will prove you have worked with people before and know a thing or two about guest relations.
- Gain some basic boat and sailing know-how. While on board, you may be asked to help with docking or safety precautions.
- You must be physically fit. Working on a yacht requires long hours of standing and walking, plus some heavy lifting. Make sure you are up for the job!
- You must have excellent communication skills. This includes communicating with your fellow crew members as well as the guests. Instructions must be followed to a tee, and you must be able to give instructions with clarity.
- Organization is key. Much of your job will be keeping the vessel clean and tidy at all times. This requires being proactive.
- Maintain a valid passport because, on some yachts, you will be traveling internationally.
If you lack experience, many programs will consider junior stew candidates. They will look at your entire background, such as customer service jobs, event planning, retail sales, and even playing sports in school or graduating from a university. These all show how you relate to people and your sticktoitiveness.
Duties of a Yacht Stewardess
Depending on the type and size of the yacht you are on, your duties can vary. Most of your work will involve cleaning cabins, social areas, and decks. You will also prepare meals plus stock supplies.
If you are a junior team member on a yacht larger than 45 to 50 meters, you will initially be doing laundry and other housekeeping duties.
On a smaller vessel, you could be a party of one, and you would report to the captain. This means you will be doing everything, which includes setting up, preparing, and serving all meals, housekeeping duties, continuously serving beverages, preparing for any activities, serving cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, and doing cabin turndowns. Whew!
If two or more stewardesses are on board, the duties can be split or rotated. You would report to the senior member of the team.
Large yachts are run like a business. The chief stew (this is the senior member of the team) will provide each team member with a checklist of duties for their shift. On the biggest superyachts, each interior division may have its head of the department. So, for instance, if you are a housekeeping stewardess, you would report to the head of housekeeping.
Being on time and looking fresh and ready to go is essential. The most important part of your job will be attending to the guests on board. They should be well attended to, and you should be able to answer any questions they may have.
Is a Yacht Stewardess Paid Well?
Entry level – $2,500 to $3,500 monthly – Charter programs are usually lower because crew members can receive tips. On larger vessels, some can make as much as $4,500 monthly. So bigger boats = bigger bucks!
Senior level – If you are an experienced chief steward on a large superyacht (say longer than 70 meters), your earnings could be between $7,000 to $12,000 monthly.
Pros and Cons of Being a Yacht Stewardess
Every job has benefits and drawbacks, and being a yacht stewardess is no different. So let’s take a look at this next.
Pros:
- You are afforded a glamorous lifestyle on the water
- Your surroundings are luxurious
- You get to travel the globe
- You will meet so many fascinating people
- The salary is great relative to other entry-level positions in hospitality
- You are offered other free or discounted travel options
- You are given access to private parties and events
Cons:
- You work incredibly long hours – this is not a 9-5 job
- You work in very close quarters with your team members
- No quiet space, and downtime
- Away from home very often
- You will constantly be cleaning
- May have to tolerate rude guests
Ready to Become a Yachtie?
Do you enjoy the allure of wide open seas? Those who love the water might find the yachtie lifestyle a dream come true. Long days in the Caribbean and South Pacific, cruising the French Riviera and the Caribbean sounds like paradise.
While being a yacht stewardess has incredible advantages, remember, it is not all jet skis and cocktails! It is a lot of physically hard work and long hours.
The path to becoming a yacht stewardess can take several directions based on the vessel size you want to work on. The size of yachts can vary from small private yachts to large charter yachts, with different requirements and expectations for their crews.
Having a background in the hospitality business is a great benefit when applying to be a yacht stewardess because this job is all about excellent customer service.
Despite its glamour, the job is physically demanding as well. All hands need to be on deck!
So what do you say – Bon voyage?
