What is a super yacht?

A super yacht is a luxury travelling vessel sailing to the most glamorous and exotic locations in the world. Not to be confused with a cruise ship, they are private vessels – floating homes for the rich and famous, and include Jacuzzi’s, gyms, pools, cinemas, jet-ski’s, submarines and other water toys. They may have major artworks, and state of the art entertainment systems.

What crew positions are available on board super yachts?

There are numerous full time and seasonal positions on board these yachts, however Crew4Superyachts Ltd specialises in providing training and recruitment ONLY for junior stewards and stewardesses.

What does a steward/ess do?

A steward/ess is responsible for the care of the yachts’ interior as well as the guest’s wellbeing whilst on board. Duties will range from serving all meals, preparing buffets and parties, laundry and housekeeping, wine service, preparing cocktails and cleaning and maintaining the interior to 7-star standards. They will organise excursions for the guests, and may also be required to look after children

What experience do I need to have?

Previous hospitality skills or customer service skills are a must for all interior crew, either through previous work experience or a super yacht steward/ess training course. Skills in silver service, flower arranging, bar tending and cocktail making, ironing and laundry skills are all required if you wish to become an interior crew member.

Do I need any formal qualifications to work on board a super yacht?

Yes! You need to have a certification called STCW-95 Basic Safety Training (STCW stands for Safety Training, Certification in Watchkeeping) This is a 5 days course made up of 4 modules – Fire Fighting, Elementary First Aid, Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities and Personal Survival Techniques. You will be required to obtain all 4 modules before you board your first yacht, and these can be completed whilst you are looking for work. This course is becoming mandatory for all super yacht crew members and you will find it difficult, if not impossible, to find work without it. You will also need an ENG1. This is a crew members medical needed for work on board the larger super yachts, and is slowly becoming mandatory for all crew members. Please email us if you would like information on where to obtain these certifications.

Is it the same as working on board a cruise ship?

No! Usually cruise liners have hundreds of crew members whereas on board a super yacht there will generally be a ratio of one crew member to one guest. You have direct interaction with the guests, of which there will only be maximum 12-14 on board at any one time, so it is a much more personalised service. The standards of a super yacht are much higher as every detail is scrutinised by the owners and guests – they will be used to the best of everything so standards are required to remain high at all times.

How much can I earn?

Please see the salary guidelines page. As a junior steward/ess you can earn from £1900 per month rising to £5000+ per month for a chief steward/ess position. If you work on board a charter yacht (this is a yacht that is hired out for holidays) you can also expect to earn roughly £500-£800 per week of charter in tips – that is on top of your salary! Also, you will not have to pay any living expenses, i.e. food or accommodation – all your uniform and even toiletries are provided!

How difficult will it be to find work?

The super yacht industry is growing year by year and there are not enough trained and experienced crew members to meet the demands of the yachts currently being built. There are yacht crew agencies all over the world looking to add new crew members to their books. The best time to find work is at the end of each season, when there are large crew changeovers.'As long as you are willing to travel to the major yachting marinas in the south of France or Fort Lauderdale, apply what you learn during the training course and join the crew agencies as well as walking the docks.

Where do these yachts travel?

You will find super yachts in the US (Fort Lauderdale/New York/New England etc) all year round, in the Caribbean (St. Martin/St. Barts / Bahamas / Antigua etc) from October to April and in the Mediterranean during April – October (France: St. Tropez / Cannes /Nice . Italy, Corsica and Sardinia etc). There are many yachts that have their own itineraries, and travel to Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Papua New Guinea, French Polynesia, Australia, Tahiti, New Zealand...

I am a guy, can I work as a steward, or are the positions mainly for females?

More and more yachts these days request stewards due to owners’ preferences and crew sleeping arrangements. There are also positions available as steward/deckhand, where you work both on the interior and exterior or the vessel.


I am only looking for a 6 months position during a gap year, is yachting for me?

Yes! There are many seasonal positions in yachting, April to September being the most popular time for seasonal steward/ess positions in the Mediterranean.

I have just lost my job and am looking for a change in lifestyle, is being a steward/ess for me?

Yes! A permanent crew member is a very rewarding position and there are ample opportunities to move up the career ladder. You work with a group of like-minded individuals, and wake up every day in a new place. It is both challenging and rewarding. As a permanent crew member you will be entitled to great benefits including full health care and medical/dental insurance, 4-6 weeks paid holiday per year, and one return flight home a year.

What kind of person is yachting most suited to?

Do I really need to do a steward/ess training course to work on board a super yacht?

I have always wanted to travel abroad and work but am a female travelling alone, is the yachting industry safe?

Will I get to see the yachts before I begin in yachting? It sounds too good to be true!