Key takeaways
- ✓A stew looks after the yacht’s interior and guests: service, housekeeping, laundry and provisioning support.
- ✓Minimum documents: STCW Basic Safety Training and a seafarer medical such as ENG1. A food hygiene certificate helps.
- ✓Land-based hospitality experience (hotels, restaurants, events) is the best preparation for a first job.
- ✓Pay depends on yacht size, rank and charter programme; tips on charter yachts can add a lot.
- ✓The ladder: junior stew → stew → second stew → chief stew / purser.
What does a yacht stewardess do?
- •Guest service: drinks, meals, table setting, wine service and attention to guest preferences.
- •Housekeeping: cabins, bathrooms and guest areas cleaned to a hotel-plus standard every day.
- •Laundry: guest and crew laundry, ironing and care of delicate fabrics.
- •Turn-down service, flowers, table décor and events on board.
- •Inventory and provisioning support: linen, amenities, bar and pantry stock.
- •Crew mess and crew areas on smaller yachts.
Interior ranks
| Rank | Main focus |
|---|---|
| Junior stew | Housekeeping, laundry, learning service standards |
| Stew / steward | Service and housekeeping, owns parts of the interior |
| Second stew | Leads service, trains juniors, covers for the chief |
| Chief stew | Runs the interior team, budgets, guest preferences, rotas |
| Purser / interior manager | Accounts, admin and guest logistics on large yachts |
Certificates and documents
- •STCW Basic Safety Training — required for crew on commercially operated yachts.
- •Seafarer medical certificate, for example the UK ENG1 or an accepted equivalent.
- •Food hygiene certificate (often asked for, e.g. Level 2), helpful for galley and pantry work.
- •Optional: wine and barista courses, silver service, guest service courses such as GUEST.
- •A valid passport and the visas for where the yacht cruises.
Requirements depend on the yacht’s flag and how it operates. Check each job advert.
What does a stew earn?
Pay varies by yacht size, rank, programme and contract type. Recruitment sources often quote entry-level stew salaries in the region of €2,000–3,500 a month, with chief stews on large yachts earning much more. Charter yachts may add tips, which can be significant in a busy season.
Food and accommodation on board are usually included, which is a big part of why yacht work pays well for many people. Always confirm salary, leave, travel and tips policy in your crew agreement.
Figures are indicative, from recruitment and career sources — not official data. See our yacht crew salary guide for more.
How to get your first stew job
- •Get STCW and a medical before you travel to a yachting hub.
- •Build a clean, one-page yacht CV with a professional photo and your hospitality experience first.
- •Dayworking on yachts in Antibes, Palma or Fort Lauderdale is a common way in.
- •Ask previous employers for references — and collect recommendations on your profile.
- •Be flexible on your first yacht: size, programme and contract length.
Is it the right job for you?
Expect long days during charters, little privacy and very high standards. In return you travel, save money and learn skills that open doors in yachting and luxury hospitality. People who like structure, detail and looking after others tend to do well.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need experience to become a yacht stewardess?+
Not always. Many junior stew jobs consider people new to yachting who have strong hospitality experience from hotels, restaurants or events.
Which certificates does a yacht stewardess need?+
Usually STCW Basic Safety Training and a seafarer medical such as ENG1. A food hygiene certificate is often requested.
How much does a junior stew earn?+
Indicative recruitment figures are around €2,000–3,500 a month, depending on the yacht, plus food and accommodation on board and sometimes charter tips.
What is the difference between a stew and a chief stew?+
A stew does service and housekeeping; the chief stew runs the whole interior team, rotas, budgets and guest preferences.
Sources
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