Being a yachtie is not all sunshine and roses; a lot of hard work takes place, and most yacht staff must work long, unsociable hours with little to no breaks. However, there are so many desirable elements that come with being a yachtie.
The salary:
The most obvious benefit of working on a yacht is the salary. Your boss and owner of the yacht are likely to be a multi-millionaire or a billionaire, meaning they have enough money to offer good wages in exchange for high-quality service. The typical pay scale alters depending on the size of the yacht or if it is a private yacht or a charter yacht. However, crew members will usually be paid a minimum of $2500 USD (£1829.40 GBP)/ month.
As a yacht crew member, you will have no commute to work, no rent/accommodation bills, no food costs, and even no basic toiletry costs! Tips and gratitude are also customary on yachts, and a crew member can get 2000 euros per charter. Crew can expect to earn roughly up to 10k per month if a yacht has weekly charters booked for a season. Plus, all tips are tax-free, making working on yachts a lucrative career choice. So lucrative that yacht crew members can leave with sufficient money for a deposit on a house or kick-start their own business in a few years.
The lifestyle:
A lot of yachties are drawn to the unique lifestyle that comes with working on luxury yachts. Crew members get to travel to the most exotic and luxurious location in the world. This includes the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Hot climates, golden beaches, inspiring mountains, local cuisine, variety of cultures are just a few things crew get to experience. Of course, most crew members’ time is onboard; however, when they do come to land, they get to go to incredible ports and explore the local areas.
One of the best parts of being a yacht crew member is that the seasonal jobs allow the crew to travel during their annual leave/holiday. If their captain is lenient, then the crew may be permitted to enjoy the best facilities and amenities the yacht has to offer (if guests are off-board, of course). This includes using the jet-skis, tenders, other water toys, the gym, home-cinema room, swimming pool, hot tubs and more.
Friendships:
However, for the people drawn to relationships over salary, you’ll be happy to know that working on superyachts allows you to make lifelong friends. The crew are more like families due to their constant interaction enabling relationships to form quicker. Typically, yachties share the same interests because the type of person travelling across the world to work on a yacht tends to be fun, outgoing, and adventurous. Making friends from all nationalities is a great opportunity, and yachting allows crew members to have a network of friends across the globe! Plus, it’s not uncommon for yachties to form such strong connections with others that some end up in marriage!
Transferable skills:
You do not need a degree to become a yacht crew member, which is desirable for many people. However, people can be concerned about the durability of a yachties lifestyle due to the job’s longevity. Nevertheless, crew members’ experience working on a yacht for months or even years can put an impressive mark on their resume. Working on a yacht proves to employers that you are hard-working and a real team player. In addition, yachting shapes crew members with military-style routines and teaches respect towards a hierarchy-like system. The transferable skills such as managerial and administration skills from roles like lead deckhand and chief stewardess are greatly transferable to on-land jobs too. Plus, there are opportunities to work your way up the hierarchy to positions with greater responsibilities and better salaries.
If you are looking to get into yachting, CrewPass is your first step. The yachting industry is highly competitive, which is why it is crucial to stand out! CrewPass provides your employer assurance that you have cleared a criminal background check, and you are safe to work onboard.
Do you think you have what it takes to be a yachtie? Let us know on our social media channels, and if you enjoyed this blog post, comment below!
