Yacht stewardess jobs and salary guide

Yacht Stewardess jobs and salary guide

This blog will give you an overview of the yacht stewardess job description and what you can expect to earn.

What does the job entail?

A yacht steward(ess) is in charge of the superyacht’s interior maintenance and gives the finest level of hospitality and service in line with the yacht owners’ and guests’ demands.

This is a professional position that requires skills, intelligence, and tact. It is the ultimate job for someone who loves being in the company of upscale people in an elegant setting.

Yacht steward(ess) are required to be knowledgeable about silver service, food safety qualifications, housekeeping, and laundry, culinary skills can be helpful if required to cook for yacht crew and foreign languages, knowledge of wines, drinks, and cocktails is also beneficial.

A stewardess should be able to work well with little supervision, even an entry-level position, have the ability to meet deadlines, and work as part of a team.

Being open-minded is another prerequisite.

In this position, you are required to demonstrate outstanding guest relations skills, strong communication abilities, and a sense of responsibility.

You must also be physically fit and capable of working long hours.

Some of the perks include traveling in exotic locations, meeting celebrities and dignitaries, visiting the most luxurious and exquisite places, whilst getting paid to do so.

Yacht stewardess job description

What are the responsibilities?

The chief stewardess is responsible for making the owner and guests happy.

A day in the life of a yacht stew starts with greeting guests as they board the boat, getting them settled, and attending to their needs throughout their time onboard.

The rest of the time is spent serving great food, stocking supplies, cleaning the boat, and helping out with laundry.

There may be anything from 1 to 5+ yacht steward (ess) on a larger-sized yacht.

The responsibilities and duties will differ depending on the size of the boat and the amount of yacht crew on board.

On a bigger yacht, your first duty as a stewardess will be to learn the fundamentals of being a stewardess.

The biggest issue for yacht crew members is keeping the boat in excellent condition, and it’s a full-time job that requires much hard work. Keeping the yacht clean, detailing it, cleaning the windows, and polishing are all on their to-do list to maintain it in perfect shape at all times.

On a smaller yacht, with a lesser number of interior crew on board, responsibilities will expand to more hands-on tasks such as tender driving and anchoring.

Assisting in the galley or deck operations is also a possibility.

What Skills Does a Yacht Stewardess Need to have?

You don’t need any formal education or experience as a stew, even though a catering college or formal hospitality background can be really helpful.

It’s not a place for people who cannot deal with high-pressure environments or are unwilling to work off the beaten path.

You should be able to work well with little direction, have the ability to meet deadlines, and work as part of a team.

Being open-minded is another prerequisite.

Yacht steward(ess)s are required to demonstrate outstanding guest relations skills, strong communication abilities, and a sense of responsibility.

They must also be physically fit to apply for stewardess jobs.

Anyone who is an excellent multi-tasker, knows how to lead and manage others, has outstanding interpersonal skills, and is accustomed to working in a team is qualified for the job!

It doesn’t stop there though. To excel and go to the next level, it’s a good idea to learn foreign languages like French and Spanish and hone your culinary skills.

What are the working days like?

While guests and/or owners are not aboard, a normal 8-5 workday with weekends off if full-time employment is typical, but hours will be longer and the job will be more difficult if there is a trip or event with guests.

During charter and owner trips, your day will start at least 1h30 before breakfast, and end 1h30 to 2h after diner time, it’s not rare for working days to exceed 15 hours, even though this is way more than the standard MLC requirements.

What are the day-to-day activities?

Activities include meal service duties, cleaning, and housekeeping, as well as the occasional crew cooking and laundry to make sure that everything runs smoothly onboard.

As the stewardess, you will be available to help with any unexpected situations that may arise throughout your workday.

Customer satisfaction and providing exceptional service to clients are two of the most essential aspects of your job.

What type to personality do you need to have?

The most important skills you need are outstanding interpersonal and communication abilities, as well as being able to work in team-oriented environments as well as being able to work independently under pressure. Focusing on guest service is key to succeeding in this position.

What are the positions in the yacht interior department?

The team is led by the chief steward(ess), with the assistance of the head of housekeeping and the head of the service.

How do you move up the hierarchy?

To move up the career ladder you need to prove that you can lead a small team, be able to manage guest expectations, and have good organizational skills. With time you can prove yourself to become a Yacht Chief Stewardess or a purser.

You will need to have amazing organizational skills, become a tutor and a coach for the junior crew, and of course display a mature, polished and professional attitude at all times.

Are there any courses I can take to upgrade my knowledge and improve my chances of landing a great job?

There are various courses both online and offline that you can take to upskill yourself.

Some of these include formally taught qualifications such as the PYA guest program. The program is designed to teach you the skills that are needed to become a first-class stewardess.

The GUEST program is the Luxury Service & Hospitality Education & Assessment.

This crew training Program is a dedicated education program for Interior Superyacht Crew that helps them advance in their profession.

This is the only internationally recognized maritime hospitality and service training accessible to the crew in interior department onboard luxury yachts.

Once you move up the ladder you might also look at Leadership and management courses, or Purser courses.

A high-quality yacht stewardess can have a huge impact on how well your service is perceived.

A good yacht stewardess can be a great competitive advantage for yachts and turn charter guests into loyal repeat customers.

Above all, charter guests appreciate the service and the quality of the interior crew.

They will remember the name of the chief steward or stewardess, they might not remember the itenerary.

Which certificates are mandatory to get a job on a yacht?

You will need to make sure you have at least your ENG1, the 5 modules of the basic STCW, and a food safety level 2 certificate.

A plus would be to have the RYA Powerboat Level 2.

What can a yacht stewardess earn?

The salaries for this type of position vary greatly depending on your experience, the size of the yacht, and the country you are working in. For a more accurate idea, you need to speak to a recruitment agency working with these yachts about your specific circumstance.

Typically, a chief stewardess with experience on 50 meters luxury yacht would earn 5500€ to 7000€ per month + tips

For an entry-level position, such as junior yacht steward (ess) salary would start at 2500€.

These are the standard ongoing rate for interior crew.

The salary and the tips also depend on whether either you are working on private yachts or charter luxury yachts.

How can I prepare myself for a Yacht Stewardess career?

To become a successful Yacht Stewardess, you don’t necessarily need to have experience in the yachting industry, you can take specialized courses, and learn on the job, but you need a great work ethic and outstanding capabilities of being adaptable, coachable, and with a can-do attitude.

To become successful in this job you don’t necessarily need to have experience in the yachting industry, you can take specialized courses, and learn on the job, but you need a great work ethic and outstanding capabilities of being adaptable, coachable, with a can-do attitude.

How to prepare my CV to land yacht stewardess jobs?

Having a well-crafted CV is the first step

Before you start writing, try to understand what the role is all about and ask yourself: “What skills do I need to succeed in this position?”

Then provide evidence of those skills and experiences either by including relevant examples or professional certifications.

Are there a lot of Stewardess jobs available on the market?

There has been a significant increase in the number of yachts and superyachts over the past decade.

This means that there are more opportunities available than ever before for people willing to take up such positions

The best way to look for yacht stewardess jobs is through an agency as you will have access to many different opportunities.

References are paramount to apply and land Stewardess jobs

When you are applying for your next yachting role, make sure that the references you provide for previous roles are spot on.

Make sure it is easy to read and highlight your skills that relate to the position you are applying for.

Don’t lie or fabricate references. Recruitment agencies speak to referees and candidates day in day out, they will know if this isn’t legit.

By focusing on the requirements of the position and showing your potential employer that you have what it takes to be one, you will have an outstanding chance at landing yourself a fantastic career.

These references don’t necessarily need to be coming from a yacht, they can also be land-based, preferably in the hospitality sector.

It is important to list past employers and their contact details to show your potential employer how well you worked with them.

If they recommend you for future employment, it will surely help your chances of landing a dream job.

Should you work with a yacht recruitment agency?

Choosing the right yacht recruitment agency will give you access to the top international opportunities around the world, which means that you can explore many different cultures and destinations.

They will be able to represent your interests and help you build a successful career path in the industry onboard charter and private yachts.

Our interior department specialists can help you.

To recap

Create a great CV, make sure your references are impeccable and keep an open mind because you might need to relocate for the right opportunity. And that’s it! It can take time to find work but once you’ve found the position that’s right for you, it will be a fantastic experience that you never forget.

If you want to apply for yacht steward(ess) positions don’t hesitate to head to our job board, there are a lot yacht job opportunities.

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