Are you a young person working in the hotel/hospitality industry but looking for something more? Then you’re already well-placed to transfer your skills into the superyacht industry. With the expansion of wealth in places such as Europe, the USA and the UAE, the superyacht industry is full of employment opportunities.
Understanding the role
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.
Are you attracted by the thought of providing 5-star service onboard the world’s most elegant superyachts? Perhaps you are looking for a more lucrative alternative to university, or you need something fulfilling to do on a gap year? If you like the sound of the hospitality industry and want to begin your career, this could be the life for you.
What is the role of a Steward or Stewardess?
Steward or Stewardess is an entry-level position – you will be under the supervision of a Chief Stew. Your duties depend on the size of the yacht and the crew, and the workload depends on the yacht size, time of year and whether there are any guests.
What are the day to day tasks?
Day to day, your role and responsibilities will vary. Your duties will include everything from providing meals and drinks, silver service, laundry and flower arranging to taking care of guests. Fundamentally, your job will be to ensure that the interior of the yacht is pristine and that the guests are happy at all times.
Forget the idea of “work hours”… Work can come at any time, day or night. Days are often long and hard, but your time off will be well worth the wait. Be open minded, flexible and ready to accept new and varied challenges each day.
How to become a superyacht stewardess or steward
UKSA’s Superyacht Steward/ess training 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 56-star luxury vessels.
How long does it take to become a yacht stewardess or steward?
UKSA runs a three-week Superyacht Sterward/ess 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 nearly 40 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.
What skills or experience are required?
There are no specific qualifications, but a background in food and drink, hospitality and catering or customer service is an advantage.
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?
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. At different times of the year, entry into the cruise ship industry or land-based jobs are also available.
“It’s possible for crew with no experience to get work but 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
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- Spend time working on your CV, make sure you have checked spellings and that you are really selling yourself to potential employers
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- Always send a covering letter/email along with your CV
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- 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
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- Research the industry, make sure you know what you are getting yourself into, don’t believe all the hype from a TV show
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- Check your social media, make sure that any pictures from your past don’t harm your chances of getting an interview
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- 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
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- 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.)
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- Sign up to Nautilus International (free for all UKSA alumni). They are your trade union as seafarers will be there for you if anything unfortunate happens.
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- 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
How to start your pathway to become a yacht stewardess?
Starting your career as a yacht stewardess begins with the right training, guidance, and industry connections, and UKSA provides everything you need to take that first step with confidence. The UKSA Superyacht Steward/ess Training Course is specifically designed to prepare you for entry-level steward and stewardess roles onboard luxury superyachts, equipping you with the practical skills, service standards, and attention to detail expected in this highly professional industry. If you’re ready to begin your journey, contact us today to speak with our team, or explore all our courses to discover the full range of training programmes available to help you start your career at sea.
