As a job that involves travel, working on a yacht offers the ultimate adventure, especially for school leavers seeking a position that isn’t a standard nine to five or those wishing to switch a desk job for something much, much more exciting.
Yacht crews are paid to travel the world, all while earning (in most instances) a tax-free salary. The job also offers the opportunity to learn a varied skill set, offering an array of transferable skills in yachting and hospitality when you decide to switch back to a career on terra firma.
Today’s superyachts employ crew with a vast array of skills to meet the ever-increasing demands of owners and guests, providing a career path for everyone.
If you’re seeking a career change and are interested in a job that involves travel, then keep on reading. Here are some of the most in-demand yacht crew roles that don’t necessarily require previous experience working on a yacht and the on-land skills and experience you’ll need to secure one.
Jobs that pay you travel
1: Stews & Stewardesses
One of the entry-level superyacht crew positions is as a Stew or Stewardess. For this interior position, you’ll ideally have some hospitality experience, preferably gained in a high-end setting, for example, at a luxury resort or fine-dining restaurant. Stews & Stewardesses are responsible for maintaining the interior of the yacht.
Day-to-day duties for this job that pays you to travel include food and beverage service, helping to prepare guest activities, packing and unpacking luggage, and ensuring the yacht’s interior is maintained to the very highest standard.
2: Deckhands
Deckhand is another entry-level yacht job. Here, you will be responsible for keeping a yacht’s exterior looking stunning, as well as maintaining, operating, and cleaning a yacht’s tenders and toys. Deckhands also typically help with mooring and tendering and may work on the bridge on lookout duties.
Day-to-day duties will often include cleaning, polishing, sanding, painting, and driving tenders. No specific experience is required, however, skill sets such as carpentry, experience as a water sports or dive operator, or a background in hospitality will all help stand you in good stead.
3: Spa therapists & hairdressers
Spa therapists and hairdressers are in increasing demand on the world’s largest superyachts that often include voluminous spas that rival those found in high-end resorts. To secure this job that involves travel, you’ll need a recognised spa therapist or hairdressing qualification and be able to demonstrate the ability to carry out treatments to the very highest standards.
Experience of working in luxury spas will make your CV stand out. On smaller yachts, spa therapists and hairdressers will be tasked with supporting stews/stewardesses when the spa is not in service, including helping with maintaining the yacht’s interior and helping with food & beverage service.
4: Personal trainers
As people become more aware of their health and wellbeing, personal trainers are becoming an in-demand crew position.
You’ll need to be a qualified personal trainer to secure this job that pays you to travel the world. Additional skills, such as being a certified yoga instructor or nutritionist, are considered an asset.
A personal trainer on a yacht will help maintain owners and guests’ fitness regimens and often work closely with the yacht’s chef to help tailor meals to meet owners and guests’ dietary needs. Personal trainer roles are often combined with a deckhand role, meaning you’ll also be expected to help maintain the yacht’s exterior when not working as a personal trainer.
5: Private chefs
Almost all yachts will have a private chef on board. There will often just be one chef on smaller boats, while larger vessels will have a team of chefs, including the entry-level role of crew cook.
As a crew chef on a yacht, you’ll likely be tasked with provisioning, menu planning, food safety and hygiene, and preparing meals for the crew, and sometimes supporting food preparation for the guests.
You’ll need some culinary expertise such as a culinary arts bachelor degree, and ideally will have experience working in high-end restaurants.
6: Sommeliers
The world’s finest yachts often include dedicated wine cellars, meaning sommeliers are highly sought after. Sommeliers will be tasked with sourcing some of the world’s finest wines, controlling and monitoring the yacht’s wine cellar, educating crew and guests, and working with the yacht’s culinary team to ensure perfect pairings at every service.
Sommeliers are part of a yacht’s interior team and will often be tasked with additional butler duties. To work as a sommelier on a yacht, you will need exceptional wine knowledge and formal wine training, such as the WSET qualification. Ideally, you will come from a high-end hospitality background and be able to demonstrate the ability to provide the very highest service levels.
How do you find a job that involves travel?
In order to find one of these amazing yacht jobs you will need to work with a dedicated and experienced yacht crew agent. These specialised recruiters are experts in yacht crew recruitment and will discuss roles that will suit your skill sets and put you forward for an interview.
For those seeking an adventurous job that pays you to travel, working as part of a yachts’ crew might just be the ideal fit.
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