THE BOOK’S TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Foreword by Adrienne Gang
Preface
I Must Confess… I never would have expected I’d become a yacht stewardess.
I Must Confess… It’s all Carl’s fault.
Introduction
I Must Confess… The first step was a little traumatic for me.
Welcome Aboard!
The State of the Crew Job Market
A Quick Note on Gender and Terminology
How to Use This Guide
Now for What You Won’t Find
Setting Sail for New Horizons
PART I — “THE WHAT INDUSTRY?”
Chapter 1: Shhh… I’ve got a secret.—Luxury Yachting Defined
“Is That Like Working on a Cruise Ship?”
Cruise Ships vs. Luxury Megayachts—A Vast Sea of Difference
Why Work on a Cruise Ship When You Can Work on a Luxury Yacht Instead?
I Must Confess…We yachties sort of frowned upon what life might be like aboard the ol’ cruise ships.
Yacht Definitions: The Superlative Confusion
Luxury, Mega-, Super-, Gigayachts… and How They Differ
Yacht Classifications (Table)
A Yacht’s Interior
Floating Cribs
Your Future “Office”
Who Onboard Can Afford All This? (The Owners, the Guests… and Their Money)
Owner-ship: For the Hull of It
I Must Confess… I knew very little about the high society life when I entered yachting.
Charter-ship: Boating with the Big Fish
I Must Confess… It was amazing what some of our guests deemed a necessity.
Oh, the Places You’ll Go (The Travel)
The World is Their Oyster…and Their Playground
It’s the Journey That Matters… But the Destinations Are Nice, Too
I Must Confess… I had never even heard of some of the places I made it to working on yachts.
Mum’s the Word (The Crew)
There’s No Business Like Boat Business (The Industry)
Chapter 2: What Has Yachting Done for Crew Lately?—(a.k.a. The Benefits!)
The Job Market: Boom to Bust, But Coming Back
Contracts Are Still Coming
Crew Jobs—A Crisis?
(Drum Roll): The Benefits
Salaries to Savor
Tips Ahoy!
Crew Packages Come with Big Benefits
The Perks
Globetrotting in Yachting—The Travel
I Must Confess… Times in port, with no guests onboard, are spent living life to the fullest.
Making Connections—The People
Gaining a Family Away from Home—The Crew
Living on a Yacht—The Lifestyle
Charity: How the Lifestyle Lets You Give Back
I Must Confess… Sometimes, I felt more fortunate than the guests
Random Perks
Resist Temptation—Your Saving Grace
I Must Confess… I spent a little too much of my earnings on playtime—but I didn’t always regret it.
Chapter 3: There’s No “I” in CREW—Meet Your Fellow Crewmembers
A Portrait of Captain and Crew
The Key Ingredient = The Crew
I Must Confess… The pressure can be exhilarating
Types of Crew Employment
Crew Make-up
Departmental Fundamentals
Onboard Hierarchy (Table)
Crew Numbers and Examples (Table)
Positions and Responsibilities
Administrative Department
Captain
Purser
Engineering Department
Chief Engineer
Assistant or 2nd Engineer
Exterior Department
First Mate/Officer
Bosun or 2nd Mate
Deckhand(s)
Galley Department
Executive Chef
Assistant Chef (Sous Chef)
Interior Department
Chief Stewardess
Stewardess—1st, 2nd, 3rd
Dual Positions
I Must Confess… I chose to use the more formal, British pronunciation for my new job title of “Stewardess.”
Chapter 4: Around the World with a Silver Tray—What Becoming a Yacht Stew Entails
Endless Chores Earns You Distant Shores
I Must Confess… Before I became a yacht stewardess, I was the least domesticated of any person I knew.
Julie from “The Love Boat” Ain’t Got Nothin’ on a Yacht Stew
As a Yacht Stew, You Might Be Expected to Be A:
The Big Three: Service, Housekeeping, and Laundry
Service
Main Meal Service
Styles of Service
Menus
Lending Help in the Galley
I Must Confess… I always made it a point to befriend the chef.
Table Setting and Napkin Folding
I Must Confess… I sucked at napkin folding
Washing Dishes and Polishing Silver
Wine Service (Sommelier Skills)
Bartending
Beverage Provisioning
Serving Snacks and Hors d’oeuvres
Other Types of Service
Housekeeping
Cleaning, Dusting, and Vacuuming (Hoovering)
I Must Confess… Those %#@&!* GOLD SINKS were the bane of my existence!
Making Beds and Other Cabin Care
I Must Confess… I tried on a pair of guest’s shoes.
Guest Heads
A Day in the Life of a Stew on Housekeeping Duty WITH Guests Onboard
I Must Confess… I once cleaned a bit too thoroughly.
Laundry
What Gets Done (Can you wash this?)
Folding and Ironing
I Must Confess… I skimped on the laundry because I knew bed sheets could be sent out to the dry cleaners.
Sample Stew Rotation Schedule
Chapter 5: A Stew’s Job Is Never Done—Beyond The Big Three
Host/Hostess (with the Most/Mostest)
I Must Confess… I was overwhelmingly star-struck by a guest once (and only once).
A Brief Word on Stew Panache
Concierge and Valet/Personal Assistant
Entertainer and Activities Director/Party Planner
Party-Planning Checklist
Theme Night Suggestions
I Must Confess… I had my fair share of party debacles… one of the most disastrous being the “Academy Awards Night Gone Awry.”
Guest Care
Tending to Seasickness
Psychiatrist
Childcare
I Must Confess… I told the kids too much. (I’m not good with kids.)
Nurse
Privacy Protection
Safety
Household Management
Inventories and Maintenance Logs
Hiring Contractors and Staff
Stowing for Sea
Stowing for an “Out of Water” Experience (The Shipyard)
Interior Manuals
Shopping
I Must Confess… I loved shopping for the boat.
Guest Profiles
Sample Breakfast Notes
Back-Up Deck Crew
Docking and Handling Lines and Fenders If Needed
The Decks
Crew Care
Crew Areas
Crew Mess
Watch Duty
Crew Cabins
Crew Uniform
Special Skills
Massage, Beauty, and Fitness Training
Floral Arranging Know-How
Cooking Abilities
PART II – GETTING HIRED
The Quick Start Guide: The A to Z of How to Become a Yacht Stew . . . .
Chapter 6: The Recipe for a Great Stew—The Skills and Traits Required to Get Hired
Recipe for a Yacht Stew: The Prime Ingredients
Personal Attributes Assessment
People Skills
Positive Attitude
I Must Confess… I had to bite my sassy tongue at times.
Team Player
Proper Etiquette
Appearance and Personal Hygiene
Discretion
I Must Confess… I watched Naomi Campbell watch TV.
Observational and Listening Skills
Problem-solving Skills
I Must Confess… I once bribed some customs officials.
Organizational Skills
Flexibility
I Must Confess… No matter how prepared I tried to be, I was caught off guard a lot.
Transferable “Ingredients” from Your Previous Recipes
The Excavation of Your Work History
The Obvious
The Not-So-Obvious
Chapter 7: Learning the Ropes—Essential Training for Entry-Level Stews
STCW Basic Safety Training (BST)
A Quick Background on the STCW Code
STCW Basic Safety Training Standards
The STCW Basic Safety Training Course
I Must Confess… I sorta freaked out during a fire school drill.
Cost of STCW Basic Safety Training Courses
STCW Basic Safety Training Schools
STCW Basic Safety Training in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
STCW Basic Safety Training in Other Parts of the U.S. and Canada
STCW Basic Safety Training in Antibes, France and Palma de Mallorca, Spain
STCW Basic Safety Training in the United Kingdom
STCW Basic Safety Training in Australia
Specialized Stew Training
I Must Confess… Stew training was mind-boggling.
PYA G.U.E.S.T. Career Path for Stews
PYA G.U.E.S.T. Interior Crew Training & Certification Development Route
Interior Crew/Stew Training Centers
Interior Crew/Stew Training Schools in Fort Lauderdale
Interior Crew/Stew Training Schools in Europe
Interior Crew/Stew Training Schools in Australia and South Africa
Suggested Classes for Quick Training
ENG1 Seafarer Medical Certificates
Chapter 8: Picking Up Anchor—Choosing and Moving to a Hiring Port
The First Big “To Do”—Choose a Hiring Port
To Move or Not to Move? There Is Very Little Question. (MOVE!)
Hiring Port Options
What Criteria Do I Use to Choose a Hiring Port?
Seasonal Decisions
Peak Times to Find Yacht Jobs (Table)
Passport and Visa Considerations
Important Information for Non-U.S. Job Seekers
The Skinny on Hiring Ports
Fort Lauderdale, Florida USA
Antibes, France
Palma de Mallorca (Majorca), Spain
Newport, Rhode Island USA
Finding a Crew House in Your Hiring Port
Crew Houses and Your Budget
Crew Houses and Networking
Crew Houses and Convenience
Crew Houses and Day Working Leads
Booking Crew Accommodations
I Must Confess… My own crew house experience was tough to leave.
Crew Housing Lists
Fort Lauderdale Crew Housing
Antibes Crew Housing
Palma Crew Housing
St. Martin/St. Maarten Crew Housing
Newport, Rhode Island Crew Housing
What to Pack
A Quick Word on Valuables
Clothes
Laptop/Tablet PCs
Mobile Phone & Plans
Miscellaneous Items to Consider
Chapter 9: Let the Job Hunt Begin!—Crew Agencies, Day Working, and Networking
Crew Agencies (Employment Agencies)
The Advantages of Using Crew Agencies
Crew Agency Hiring Process
It’s Not Easy Being Green
Be Persistent
Show You Are Eager and Dedicated to Your Quest
Be Patient
Get Registered
Crew Agencies in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Crew Agencies in Antibes, France
Crew Agencies in Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Crew Agencies in Newport, Rhode Island
Crew Agencies in Newport, RI and West Coast, U.S.
Crew Agencies in the U.K. and Australia
Training Schools Placement Assistance
The Online Job Hunt
Internet-Only Crew Agencies
Online Job Search Sites
Online Bulletin Boards, Forums, and Scams
Day Working
Day Work Pay
Using Day Work Pay to Network
How Day Work Can Lead to a Permanent Job
How Day Work Can Help You Build Your Portfolio
How to Find Day Work
Dockwalking—For Temporary or Permanent Positions
Challenges for Dockwalkers
Make Up Business Cards
I Must Confess… I screwed up my first time day working (and I even took my toothbrush!).
Trade Publications—Online and Offline
Publications Based in the U.S.
Publications Based in the Mediterranean
Publications Based in the Caribbean
Networking—Making Connections and Meeting the Right People
Public Job Boards in Yachtie Bars (and other places people post)
Get Out and About in Port
Networking in Fort Lauderdale
Networking in Antibes
Events to Attend
Chapter 10: Fit to be Hired—Résumés/CVs, Interviews, and Accepting Your First Job!
Résumés/CV’s
Is it a Résumé or a CV, and What the Heck is the Difference!?
CV Strategy
Getting Started: Reflect and Brainstorm
Advice: Consider Your Audience
Anatomy (What to Include)
Head Shot Photo
The Basics: Contact Details and Personal Information
Objective and Summary Statement
Qualifications/Skills Summary
Education and Training
Employment History/Work Experience
Honors/Activities/Special Skills
Interests
Tips for CV Construction
Layout
Style
Writing Quality
Content
Sample CV
References
The Power of the Written Word
How to Submit Your Reference List
Prepare Your Contacts
Some Final TIPS on Obtaining References
Interviews
Interviewing with Crew Agents
Interviewing with Captains or Other Hiring Representatives
Interview Questions for Crew to Ask Captains or Other Interviewers
Deciding Which Type of Job You Want
Motoryachts vs. Sailing Yachts: Which Do You Choose?
Charter Yachts vs. Private Yachts
Bigger Yachts vs. Smaller Yachts
Level of Service
American Flag vs. Foreign Flag Yachts
Chapter 11: All Aboard—Life “Out There”
Moving Onboard
What to Bring
Cabin Fever (Crew Accommodations)
Fitting in With the Crew
Uniforms
Romantic Relationships Onboard
I Must Confess… I dated a fellow crewmember.
Dealing with Seasickness
I Must Confess… I got seasick on a couple occasions.
Work Schedules
No Guests Onboard—Work Hours, Breaks, and Meals
Guests Onboard—Work Hours, Breaks, and Meals
I Must Confess… I played hooky from work one afternoon, while we were on charter.
Behavior Guidelines
Personal Hygiene
Smoking
Alcohol Consumption
Drugs
Keeping in Touch with “Back Home”
Phone & Skype
Email
Banking and Bills
Changing Jobs and Crew Turnover
Changing Jobs
Boat Hoppers
Money Management
Life After Yachting
Future Possibilities
I Must Confess… I worried about what I would do “after.”
Conclusion
Thoughts on Being a Yacht Stew
I Must Confess… I grew to love the sea.
Appendix A: Understanding Yacht Measurements
Appendix B: A Sample Mediterranean Itinerary
Appendix C: Culinary Terms
Appendix D: Sample Lunch and Dinner Menus
Appendix E: Guest Profile: Charter Review Example
Appendix F: Worldwide Yachting Publications, Websites, and Books to Check Out
The 2nd Edition of The Insiders’ Guide to Becoming a Yacht Stewardess is available now. Grab your copy today!
Not ready to buy yet? No problem! Get more information about superyachts, who owns them, where they travel, and what the guests are like by downloading Chapter 1 here.
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