Yachting Career Frequently Asked Questions - Maritime Professional Training

Q. Can you tell me about the types of positions you place?
A. 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. 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.

It is important to note that while the Yachts are designed for the owner and guests pleasure, the crew must work very hard and diligently to maintain the vessel and fulfill the expectations of the owner and guests. Working on a yacht is by no means an easy job.

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.

Q. What kind of experience do I need to get started in this industry?
A. Experience requirements for Steward/ess:

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 Steward/ess 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 the 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.

Experience 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. Most yachts will also require some maritime training, including STCW 95 Basic Safety Training.

Experience 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. Most yachts will also require some maritime training, including STCW 95 Basic Safety Training.

Experience 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, plumbing, 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. Most vessels will require the Engineer to have some formal training, certification and licensure depending on the size and flag of the yacht.

Q. When is the best time to find a job?
A. 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.

Q. What are the salaries for the various positions onboard?
A. Please contact crew placement agencies directly 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.

Q. Where do most of the yachts hire from?

A. 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.

Q. Will I need a Maritime License to be eligible to work on the yachts?
A. The Captain, Mates, and Engineers, on a charter vessel or a larger private yacht, will require the appropriate License recognized by the Flag State of the vessel. A maritime license is not necessarily required for the junior level positions, i.e. Stewardess, Deckhand, Cook, etc. However, most yachts will require their entire crew to be STCW95 Certified and many will require a Yacht Ratings Certificate. In addition, anyone operating a Tender is required in many countries to hold a Tender Certificate or Power Boat License.

Q. What kind of travel Visa will I need?
A. For foreign registered yachts traveling inside US waters, non-Americans 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.

Q. Who do I report to?
A. The hierarchy is as follows: The Owner owns the yacht, and the Captain manages every aspect of the yacht and it’s crew for the owner, so he/she reports directly to the Owner unless the Owner has hired a Management company to liaison with the Captain. The Chief Mate is an Officer, and he/she assists the Captain in the management of the boat and its crew, so they report directly to the Captain. The Engineer is also an Officer, and he/she maintains the vessels systems. A licensed Engineer has responsibility for the safety of the crew and passengers, and also, can be held liable for accidents not prevented if the vessel is unseaworthy. They report directly to the Captain, although in some instances, they may be required to report to the Chief Mate. All Deck Crew such as the Bosun, Lead Deckhand, and Deckhands report directly to the Chief Mate. The Chief Stewardess and the Chef are both Heads of their Departments, the Interior and the Galley. All Steward/esses report to the Chief Steward/ess, who generally reports to the Captain. All Sous Chefs and Galley Assistants report to the Chef, who generally reports to the Captain. Depending on how large the yacht is, determines how much responsibility the Captain delegates to the Chief Mate. As the Captain is ultimately responsible for everyone on board, he/she may determine how much to delegate based on their confidence in their Chief Mate. It should be defined in the vessel’s SOP.


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