Yachtie Guide: yacht stewardess salary & job description

The role of a yacht stewardess sounds glamorous, living in a luxury on-the-water home and traveling between exotic destinations. But what does it actually entail?

A yacht stewardess is responsible for maintaining the interior of the yacht, making sure it is spotless at all times, all the while providing 5-Star service to the owners and/or guests who come aboard. It requires someone with extremely close attention to detail and a high level of enthusiasm, and long hours and are rewarded with the opportunity to see the world, make best friends for life and learn valuable life skills. Find out what to expect from a yacht stewardess salary, the responsibilities of the role and the qualifications and experience needed to be a stewardess below.

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What is a typical yacht stewardess salary?

On average a junior yacht stewardess can expect to earn anywhere between $3,000 and $3,500 per month, depending on the size of the vessel they are working on. This could be someone who has never worked as a stewardess before, or who has spent a short time in the role.

As you gain more experience – on a larger yacht this may mean a promotion to second stew, sharing some responsibilities with the chief stewardess – earnings can increase to an average of between $3,500 to $5,500 per month. Again, your yacht stewardess salary at this level depends on the size of yacht, your training and certification.

In the senior role of chief stewardess, salary can be anywhere between $5,000 to $9,000+ per month, with the job requiring by far the most responsibilities of the interior team.

The typical yacht stewardess salary varies a lot from yacht to yacht, however these estimates provide a rough idea of how you can progress.

What does a yacht stewardess actually do?

Yacht Stewardess & Second Stew

A yacht stewardess or steward’s role is to deliver exceptional service to the owners and guests onboard while keeping the inside of the yacht immaculate. So what should you expect on your first charter? Responsibilities vary from yacht to yacht, but generally include food and drink service, bartending, table setting, cabin arrangement, floral decoration, stowage for sea, crew provisioning and general housekeeping for the guests and yacht crew. Working under the guidance of the chief stew, a yacht stewardess looks after every need of the guests onboard.

Larger yachts will also have a second stewardess, who will support the chief stew as needed with interior duties and guest service. To do this job you need to have expert knowledge of housekeeping and laundry protocols on a yacht, a deep understanding of fine dining and wine service, experience with inventory management and generally a high level of organisation, alongside the ability to keep calm and smiling in stressful situations. Stewardesses are normally promoted to the position of second stew after at least two years working in the industry.

Chief Stewardess

A chief stewardess heads up a team of yacht stewardesses, and is responsible for managing the interior maintenance of the yacht and ensuring the guests receive first-class service. Overseeing everything from polishing to flower arrangements, the chief stewardess reports directly back to the Captain. She may also take on additional duties including arranging guest trips off the yacht, transport and obtaining different currencies for wherever the yacht may be cruising. In whatever she does, an above-and-beyond service is expected, with an ability to anticipate what guests may want and to make it happen.

What qualifications do you need to become a yacht stewardess?

Like the sound of the role and want to know how to become a yacht stewardess? You’ll need three important certificates in order to be hired.

STCW Basic Training – this covers topics such as personal survival techniques, fire safety and fighting, first aid, social responsibility and security awareness.
ENG 1 (Seafarers Medical Certificate) – this shows you to be healthy enough to work at sea, and must be issued by a doctor approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
Passport and visas, when needed

Can I become a yacht stewardess with no experience?

Absolutely! Everyone has to start somewhere. If you’re wondering how to become a yacht stewardess, day work is a great way to familiarise yourself with yacht jobs, allowing you to try out different sizes of yachts and experience different crew dynamics without committing to a contract.

There are also a number of land-based professions that help provide you with the right skills for future yacht stewardess jobs. These can include jobs in hospitality, bartending, high-end restaurant or hostess work, roles in the beauty industry (especially useful on larger yachts with spas), in childcare/teaching, food safety, flower arrangement or anything boat related. However, the most important thing to show is your enthusiasm to learn, which Captains appreciate above all.

YACHT STEWARDESS