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Frequently Asked Questions
Starting a Career
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Can you tell me about the types of positions you place?
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Although there is a higher demand for experienced crew, we do place many entry level crew. Restaurant, hospitality, or mechanical background is helpful, and a flexible, positive attitude is a must. The positions are all paid positions, and usually require a minimum of 6 months to 1 year commitment. Most require you to live aboard and travel with the vessel, and you will most likely have to share a cabin with another crew member. Time off is usually 4 weeks paid per year, you are paid a monthly salary of $2000-$2500/month starting salary for Stewardesses and Deckhands, $3000 - $4500 for Cooks/Chefs and Mates, and $3000 - $4500 for Engineers. Generally the owners use the vessel about 1 week per month. The other weeks you are doing maintenance projects to ensure the vessel is 100% ready for guests. You are paid whether there are guests on board or not. If the vessel is a 'charter vessel' then when the owners are not using the yacht, other guests can pay a charter fee for the vessel and use it for 1 - 2 weeks at a time. Charter guests usually tip 10% - 20% of the charter fee to the crew, which can be up to $4000 per crew member for a week, extra, on top of their salary! However, most tips are around $1000 per person per week.
These yachts are the toys and homes of the world's wealthiest businessmen and women. Obviously, no pets, no overnight guests, no drugs, and no illegal activities. Only responsible individuals who are clean cut, presentable, and well-spoken, will succeed in this industry.
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What kind of experience do I need to get started in this industry?
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Requirements for Stewardess: Restaurant and/or hotel cleaning experience, with a great 'service with a smile' attitude, and willingness and ability to live on board and travel with the vessel. The Stewardess is responsible for all interior cleaning of the vessel, including setting the table and service of the meals, making the beds for the guests, doing the laundry for guests and crew, and for providing attentive service, anticipating their needs before they need to ask. Example, if they're going to the beach for the day, have a picnic basket ready for them including water, lemonade, sunscreen, CD player and CDs, Hat, Magazines, etc. Your job is to ensure that the guests have an enjoyable and relaxing vacation on board, and that the boat is kept immaculate.
Requirements for Cook/Chef: Same 'service' attitude as above, but flair for, and enjoyment of cooking for up to 12 guests and crew. The Cook or Chef is responsible for ordering, purchasing and storage of all food items, liaising with the owners/guests to plan the menu for the trip, and preparing all the food for the guests and the rest of the yacht crew. As the owners use the boat as a hotel in many cases, sometimes in remote locations, the food served is often the highlight of their trip.
Requirements for Deckhand: Boating experience, ability to swim/scuba dive, repair small engines, paint or varnish, and willingness to maintain exterior of the yacht in immaculate condition with pride. The Deckhand is responsible for assisting the guests with their baggage, driving the tender for them, transporting them to and from shore, cleaning the exterior of the boat, assisting in the navigation while underway, and generally helping to ensure a safe environment for the guests' vacation.
Requirements for Engineer: Practical hands on experience repairing any variety of mechanical items such as jetskis, waverunners, air conditioners, refrigerators, diesel engines, generators, electrical wiring, navigational equipment, etc. The Engineer is responsible for keeping the yacht in good mechanical order so that the vessel is safe to go to sea with guests and crew on board, and able to provide a first class hotel environment for the owners and their guests.
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When is the best time to find a job?
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During the winter, most yachts cruise to the islands of the Caribbean, including Antigua, St. Maarten, Grenada, St. Barths, etc. Right after Antigua Race Week in late April, most of the yachts begin to change crew for the upcoming Summer season. Mid - April through mid-June, many vessels return to Ft. Lauderdale for repair, maintenance, and provisioning for the summer season. This is a busy time for crew changes.
During the Summer, most yachts cruise to the Northeast USA, or to the French Riviera. At the end of the Summer when it begins to get cooler, usually September/October, many of the yachts will finish up their cruising season and go into a repair and maintenance period. This is a very busy time for crew change also, since there are no intended guests on board for several weeks, and since so many people are in the same place for the Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show at the end of October.
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Do you place crew only on motor yachts, or sailing yachts, too?
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We place crew on both power and sail, private and charter. Although most of our clients are motor yachts, we do have quite a few large sailing yachts that we work with regularly. Because we have a seasonal office in Newport, RI, (Original home of the America’s Cup) most of our sail boat opportunities, seasonal and permanent, are through that office in the summer months.
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I have not worked on yachts at all, but I have sailed for pleasure/friends in the business/worked
in restaurants, etc. What are my chances of finding employment
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Without seeing your resume portfolio, it would be impossible to say. It is always good to mention any experience you have related to the water, showing your familiarity with boats and the equipment onboard. Also highlight any customer service, food service, experience you have, as working on yachts is very much like working in a Hotel and Restaurant. One thing to mention, there are nearly always positions available for entry level Stewardesses and Cooks.
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What are the salaries for the various positions onboard?
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Please see our Pay Rates Guideline for more specific information. This is just a guideline, on some yachts you will earn more and on others you will earn less. Salaries are very much dependant on a number of criteria. Charter yachts normally pay less, but the crew receives a tip sometimes as much as $1000 - $5000 a week, cash, on top of their regular salary. Private yachts normally pay a little higher, you’ll have more free time, but there are rarely any tips involved. If the yacht is not used a lot, the salary may sometimes be a bit lower. The opposite is also true, with more guest use the salary might be higher.
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Where do most of the yachts hire from?
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Most yachts travel to destinations where the weather is warm and pleasant. Therefore, they tend to hire most of their crew when they are in Florida, between cruising seasons. However, there are always positions open in the summer in the Northeast USA, and in the Mediterranean. In the winter, many vessels hire crew who are in the Caribbean. A personal interview is usually very important to the Captain, as the crew not only work together, they must live together.
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Will I need a Maritime Llicense to be eligible to work on the yachts?
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The Captain, Mate, and Engineer, if on a charter vessel or a larger private yacht, will require the appropriate License of the Flag State of the vessel. A License is not required for any of the junior level positions, ie Stewardess, Deckhand, Cook, etc. However, most yachts will require their crew to be STCW95 Certified.
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What is STCW95?
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STCW stands for Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping. This is an international convention put in place by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) which states that all crew listed on the muster list (meaning, having any responsibility at all in an emergency situation on board) must complete one week of training. This includes 2 days Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, 1 day Personal Survival Techniques, 1 day Elementary First Aid, and 1 day Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities. Please visit our Local Knowledge pages to choose a Maritime School that offers this course.
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What kind of travel Visa will I need?
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For yachts traveling inside US waters, you will need at least a Visa Waiver, which is good for only 90 days at a time, and is given upon arrival to most foreign nationals. However, most yachts prefer non-Americans to have a B1/B2 multiple entry Visa, which allows you free entry and exit from the country for sometimes up to 10 years. This must be applied for outside of the US, and does not legally permit foreign nationals to work on US registered yachts. It only allows them to enter and exit the US. Only persons holding a Resident Alien Card (‘greencard’) and American citizens are legally allowed to work on US registered vessels, unless the vessel is outside US waters and will remain outside US waters for at least the next 6 months. Foreign registered vessels, about 75% of the world’s yachts, can hire any nationality they choose.
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