How to become a Stewardess or Steward

How to become a superyacht stewardess or steward

UKSA’s Superyacht Hospitality course is a unique programme designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to work as a steward/stewardess in the fast-growing superyacht sector. You will be trained by our highly experienced, expert team to deliver exceptional levels of service and will leave fully appreciating the attention to detail expected onboard 7-star luxury vessels.

How long does it take to become a yacht stewardess or steward?

UKSA runs a three-week Superyacht Hospitality course which is a unique programme to equip you with all the expertise required to work onboard a superyacht and deliver the ultimate standard of service. You will be trained in our unique superyacht training centre including a fully equipped cabin/dining room, superyacht galley and laundry room, giving you a comprehensive superyacht simulation experience.

This popular  course is delivered by our experienced superyacht instructor team and has been developed to align with the industry respected IAMI GUEST Program.

UKSA has been delivering courses for over 35 years and our one-to-one sessions, mentoring, careers advice, CV writing and recruitment support will give you the edge and contacts you need to enter the industry with confidence.

How much does a superyacht stewardess or steward get paid?

For an entry level role, you will earn a great wage of on average €2,500 per month (tax free), often with generous tips on top! A Chief Stew can expect to earn up to €7,000 per month excluding tips. With clear career progression along a structured route, there’s plenty of opportunity to make this a rewarding, lifelong career.

How to get a stewardess or steward job on a yacht?

Recruitment in the superyacht industry goes through peaks and troughs. There are good times when the jobs are flowing and other times when it’s a bit harder to find work. As newbie crew in the industry, getting your qualifications and being ready for the start of the Med season will make it easier as there will be many more jobs available to you.

“It’s possible for crew with no experience to get work and this depends on the individual and how much effort they put in to their CV and how proactive the person is” says UKSA’s Superyacht Cadetship Manager, James Potipher. “I have seen people with no experience but the right attitude find work and go on to have a successful career in the superyacht industry.”

Those who want to spread their wings and see the world will find the lucrative world of superyacht ‘interior’ a good career move in terms of earning money, travelling, and upskilling to provide superior levels of service onboard.

Considering working in the superyacht hospitality?

Top Tips for getting work on a Superyacht

• Spend time working on your CV, make sure you have checked spellings and that you are really selling yourself to potential employers
• Always send a covering letter/email along with your CV
• Spend time signing up to crew agents and answer all questions and complete your profile, follow up with a phone call. If the crew agent suggests you change something on your CV do it, they are the experts
• Research the industry, make sure you know what you are getting yourself into, don’t believe all the hype from a TV show
• Check your social media, make sure that any pictures from your past don’t harm your chances of getting an interview
• Get yourself vaccinated, travel rules are generally still saying you need to be vaccinated to travel between countries, being on a superyacht means you could be travelling constantly
• Be polite when interviewed, dress smartly, and ask questions (but don’t ask about how much money and holiday you will be getting, they will tell you this at some point.)
• Sign up to Nautilus International (free for all UKSA alumni).  They are your trade union as seafarers amd will be there for you if anything unfortunate happens.
• Store your certificates in a good quality folder, scan copies of all these documents, including your certificates and passport and have this available in the cloud or USB stick

Useful Links

Careers in Superyachts and Yachting