If you’ve decided to begin a career as a Superyacht Steward or Stewardess, congratulations – you’ve made a brilliant choice!
After all, what other career allows you to travel to some of the world’s most exotic locations onboard a luxury vessel whilst earning an incredibly competitive salary?
Yep, if you’re not afraid of hard work, are superb at service, and are a team player, then working as a Superyacht stew could be the perfect role for you.
So, read on to find out more about working as Superyacht interior crew, from how to become a Stew on a yacht to the necessary skills you need to blow your career out of the water…
What is a Superyacht Steward?
When you work as a yacht Steward or Stewardess, you will serve a vital role. Your main responsibilities will be maintaining the interior of the Superyacht and providing five-star service to the owners and guests.
It’s a job with plenty of variety and depending on the size of the yacht and the number of crew members, your responsibilities could vary hugely.
However, typical job functions of a steward or stewardess include housekeeping, food service and bartending, laundry – and generally ensuring your guests have a five-star experience!
How much will you earn as a Superyacht Steward/ess?
Your salary will of course depend on things such as experience and the vessel you are working on.
However, generally speaking, stewardesses can expect to earn from around €2000 a month to €4,000+ for more senior roles. Remember you won’t pay for food or accommodation though – and you can expect to earn some pretty great tips too!
If you have any additional skills and duties you carry out such as nannying, nursing, hairdressing or massage, salaries are typically higher.
Check out our salary guide for more information on what you can expect to earn as a yachtie.
6 ways to blow your Superyacht Steward/ess career out of the water
So, you know what the role entails and how much you can expect to earn – but what can you do to ensure your career as a Superyacht interior crew is successful? We’re glad you asked…
1. Have a positive attitude
First things first, having a positive attitude is absolutely essential if you’re going to make it as a Superyacht stew.
Work onboard a Superyacht never stops. From your day-to-day duties to the extra jobs and tasks you will have to ensure your guests have the best possible experience, when you work as a Steward/ess you will have to work long hours.
As such, it’s really important to have an open mind, a willingness to learn, and above all a positive, can-do attitude if you’re going to stay motivate, impress your superiors, and ensure your guests have an amazing time.
2. Go the extra mile
When it comes to yachting, the devil is in the detail – and as a Steward/ess, you will need to provide consistent, accurate, and thorough results.
That’s why it’s so important to always go the extra mile and ensure your guests feel truly special. From ensuring that cabins are immaculate and guaranteeing your uniform is tidy and making sure your guests never want for anything, the very best Stewards and Stewardess know that it’s the little things count.
3. Put customer service above everything
This leads on to our next point. When you are part of the interior team of a Superyacht, from the moment you leave your cabin in the morning to the second you turn in for the night, your guests should be your priority.
This means you need to be empathetic towards their needs, be patient, communicate with them effectively, and above all, make sure you smile at all times! Remember, nothing is too much trouble for your guests.
4. Keep calm under pressure
No matter how amazing your customer service skills, though, life happens – and the very best interior crew know that you can’t plan for everything.
That’s why, if you’re going to succeed in your yachting career, it’s important to be resilient and keep calm under pressure.
As a Stewardess, when things go wrong, it will be up to you to find a solution and turn things around – so you will need to stay calm and focused, keep your composure, and resolve any issues or problems before they escalate.
5. Be a team player
When you work on board a Superyacht, teamwork is essential. Not only will you be working alongside your fellow Stewards and Stewardesses, but you will also be working together with the rest of the crew as well.
That’s why it’s so important to be a team player and put the goals of the crew first at all times.
Whether your Deckhands ask you to help them out, or the Chef needs your support in the kitchen, the whole crew needs to work together to ensure your guests have the best possible experience.
Plus, because you’ll be living and working with your crew members 24/7, it’s really important that you all get along!
6. Keep adding to your skillset
Whether it’s your first charter season or your tenth, when you work as a Superyacht Steward or Stewardess, you will never stop learning.
In addition to the essential qualifications you need to become a yachtie in the first place, such as your ENG1 medical and STCW Basic Safety Training certificate, there are numerous other training options you can undertake to ensure you keep learning and improving such as barista training, wine appreciation, and mixology, and flower arranging.
In fact, our Superyacht Steward/ess Courses at Flying Fish ensure you have the skills and knowledge to succeed, including:
- Superyacht Interior Certificate
- CIEH Food Safety Level 2
- MCA Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (PDSD)
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
- RYA VHF Radio
- Barista training, wine appreciation, and mixology
- Customer service training
- Career guidance and mentoring
- CV support
Ready to set sail and blow your career out of the water?
If you think you’ve got what it takes to succeed as a Superyacht Steward or Stewardess, we’re here to help!
Discover our ultimate guide to working on Superyachts to find out more about what to expect, or sign up to our Superyacht courses today.
