Stewardessing on Super Yachts

[GrealishHairband]

My daughter is really keen to take a year out and work on super yachts as a way of seeing a bit of the world and earning reasonable cash. She’s obviously watched below deck and knows that although it’s probably not particularly representative (in the same way I as a midwife know that OBEM is ahem coughbullshitcough) it hasn’t put her off and she’s prepared for it being hard work and long days with demanding clients.

She has identified a training course based on IOW which suggests will train her up to a standard that will help her get a position on board a yacht.

I just wondered if anyone knew of anyone who had done it, how easy it was to find work, any forums for yachties etc for her to join. I know the people I knew who did it back in the day basically took a flight to the south of France, spent a few days wandering the swanky marinas and got a position like that with little to no experience. I don’t expect it’s the same now.

Ok, not expert in this, but does she have any land-based hospitality experience?

And to be blunt, is she prepared to sleep with the guests?

She currently works as a waitress part time around school.

Can’t say we’ve had the second conversation, if she’s anything like her mother then quite possibly 👀 (joke!) Is that a prerequisite ya think? I’d have thought that professionally that would be frowned upon.

Perhaps Google yacht recruitment agencies and see what the job ads are asking for?

@DressedUpAtAnIvy there are so many! Most seem to ask for experience, not many that seem to be willing to take on ‘green’ staff although people must get started somewhere. I was hopeful someone might know of a decent one stop shop for info. I expect the training will provide a lot of this info and possible contacts etc but I just wanted to help her get a jump if possible on looking into it all. (She’s doing lots of googling as well but her research skills definitely need some fine tuning )

OP please be very very careful. It's nothing like Below Deck and as one poster alludes to often their roles servicing the guests can be very blurred. Take time to Google yacht girls. Yes there are legitimate jobs but it's very easy to find yourself in an inescapable situation.

This AMA thread from a super yacht chef might be worth a read: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/AMA/4176700-i-work-on-a-superyacht-ama

Is the training course at UKSA? If yes, they are very reputable and she'll easily get a job. It's mainly word of mouth once you are in that world. Yes, some jobs are terrible, but there are some great ones with fab crews and amazing travel.

www.sheofthesea.com/

She doesn't just have to train as hospitality

That AMA is great thanks for linking @StarryStarrySocks it’s not as bad as I was thinking it might be in terms of debauchery tbh.

We’d seen the UKSA training but she was leaning towards the one provided by flying fish as they will provide accommodation as well although obviously nothing set in stone just yet.

Thank you for that link @Embracelife I will have a look and share with her.

@Polpette I’ll definitely take that into account. I understood yacht girls to be more er high end prostitutes, z list celebs that type of thing as opposed to staff crewing the yachts but maybe I need to have my eyes opened!

We do know people who have worked in the industry previously but not in a lot of years now so their knowledge is pretty out of date.

Got it @BeaucoupFish, I wish someone had asked how you get into it and what training is suggested. Might PM the OP and see if they respond. Or tag them in this thread @belowdeckyoubet, worth a shot!

Op I'm just being cynical having seen some of the less positive sides of the industry. The fact you're trying to properly research and get the right training is spot on.

@MaidEdithofAragon and @Embracelife they have some good advice.

@GrealishHairband it was my thread on AMA, I'm abroad on my phone - can you pm me and I'll help any way I can

@trollopolis where do you get your information from? Absolutely insulting to any professional in the yachting industry

@trollopolis

Ok, not expert in this, but does she have any land-based hospitality experience?

And to be blunt, is she prepared to sleep with the guests?

This is my understanding of the deal too

@haveagohero thank you, that’s really appreciated I will do when I get a break this morning

There's a specific training certificate they must have (even on below deck they had to take it) make sure the course she picks meets that specification - it's worth speaking to agencies that recruit staff for advice on which school to choose, saving £100 is no good if it doesn't satisfy requirements.

As others have mentioned, the issue of clients expecting other sorts of services is a major issue how prepared is she for this, is she strong enough to say no under pressure?

We know you need your ENG1 and STCW before you can get work and will ensure that she meets those minimum requirements.

I’ve got to say I am completely naïve re crew being expected to ‘service’ guests as I assumed that would be very frowned upon, you’re there to work not frolic. It’s not something anyone I’ve known work in the industry talk about really - although I suppose you probably wouldn’t bring it up over dinner 🤨 (and we’re definitely not that close, more old acquaintances so they probably wouldn’t have told me anyway).

Are those of you who are talking about it, do you work in the industry? While I’ve heard of yacht parties that are essentially floating brothels (not envy) I understood that those women were brought on board specifically for that purpose and not just because they happened to be there. Who is serving the drinks otherwise? 🤔 (I’m being flippant, I really don’t like the sound of this but know it’s something that goes on of course).

Do I want her in that situation? Absolutely of course not. But I’d like to know how prevalent and realistic that scenario is I guess.

I have a very good friend who is a chef who worked on the yachts in the Med. She was based in Antibes, about half her trips were charter and the remainder were with just one client. It's hard work, antisocial hours and times you are dealing with some very difficult guests. Generally speaking entry level positions were deckhands or 'hosties'. The jobs are very gendered with all the deckhands and engineers being men, and all the stewardesses being women, there were some exceptions but it was rare. Certain yachts have certain reputations and it is worth asking around as to what to avoid. When I say 'reputations' I am talking about sleazy owners, guests and as some have alluded to already the expectation of 'extras'. Tips can be very good and there is a bit of a party scene in between charters. Definitely a young persons game. My friend ended up being taken in by a wealthy Dutch family who employed her for whole seasons and she was treated very well. Basically avoid the Arab boats, sorry that is not very PC, but by some distance they had the worse reputations.

DH has a relative who was a stewardess on boats for two decades. She did do some charter work so similar to the Below Deck series. But she was actually chief stew on three super yachts long term. One was a decade long for an English guy who features on the Times rich list. She basically aged out and couldn’t get another position when she hit mid forties. They like their servants good looking.

She earned a lot of money but sacrificed any chance of a family or meaningful long term relationship. Many young people do this for just a couple of years. I think she was more unusual but she loved the travel, she has sailed across the Atlantic numerous times. They party hard when not on duty. The girls brought on board and tons of drugs being done by the owners happened on one boat she worked on for a season. She signed a non disclosure agreement so don’t even know their name. There’s a lot of hook ups among staff and a lot of drug taking. The stuff she has told us. I wouldn’t want my children working on a boat.

@GrealishHairband my friend is a crew agent for stews in SoF. Happy to connect them?

Oh wow that’s amazing @notaprincessimaking thank you for that offer. She’s not looking just yet as needs to finish her A Levels but for the future that would be fantastic.

@GrealishHairband no problem at all. It is a very cut throat industry and sadly a lot of what's been said on here is true. These billionaire yacht owners have very specific ideas on dress size, eye colour, hair colour etc. It's shocking really. That said, when I've visited my friend and met some of her stew friends, they are having a fabulous time and loving life earning decent money.

@GrealishHairband

I know this is an old thread, but wondered if your dd went ahead with this, and if so, how things are going for her.

My dd is competing all her necessary courses to be ready to start the job search early next year. It's all quite daunting really though, and now the 90/180 day entry into EU is putting a bit of a spanner in the works