In reality there is no set finish time so you should expect 12 – 14 hour days. It has been known for yacht crew to work weeks without a day off however, the perks do outweigh the long hours and hard work, which is why working in the Superyacht industry is so attractive.
You must work hard – for at least two thirds of every day
8-hour shifts do not exist in the superyacht industry. Each cast member signs on for 16-hour-plus shifts – and that only factors in their responsibilities on the boat. Below Deck alum Kate Chastain confirmed this on Twitter in 2020.
This could mean 7 hour days or 20 hour days if need be. But not to worry guests aren't on board all the time and whilst each yacht differs most have a standard 8 – 5 working day Monday to Friday without guests on. Yes you do get weekends, long weekends and time off.
A common working schedule for yacht stewards and stewardesses when guests are not aboard is 8 am to 5 pm, with two days off per week. Hours tend to increase when guests or owners on onboard, as yachts run 24 hours a day.
Below Deck charters typically last two or three days, but Kate says the crew puts in the equivalent of five days of work to jam-pack the experience with a week's worth of fun. "We're working not just eight-hour shifts, it's like, we're working pretty much around the clock," she notes.
The charter guests you see on the show are genuine charter guests. They pay their own money to secure a space within the six weeks of filming time each season. It can cost tens of thousands of dollars to charter any of the superyachts featured in the series.
Production crew sleep off the boat and work in shifts. There are no charters that are not filmed. I hope this helps. Curiosity questions: if something happens to the captain, who maneuvers the yacht and/or takes charge of running the yacht?
During off-season, yachts can schedule yard periods, haul-outs, and major projects.
On some yachts, training days are granted as work days (you're paid and accrue leave). In this scenario, the number of 'paid training days' will be noted in the SEA. On other yachts, the crew are required to use their annual leave for training.
What is the average age for working on a yacht? The average age of customer that trains with Flying Fish who intends to start a career on a yacht is between 22 and 35 years old. However, if you're under this age do not be put off!
In many cases, yachties also benefit from tips and gratuities. Having said that, getting tipped is more common for those yachties who work on board a charter yacht rather than those who have such a position on a private yacht. If you're a new yachtie, you can expect to make around $2,500 per month.
You may be required to work some holidays, and in that case you should receive special pay or compensatory days off. Other benefits include room and board, basic living essentials, crew uniform, access to email, performance-based bonuses, and possibly life insurance.
18 and older is the recommended age for joining a yacht as crew.
Below Deck's chief stews are some of the hardest workers on yachts. They're the team lead for anything relating to the guests on the interior (aside from the chef).
I promise production covers a meal and a drink per person." This confirms that production pays for their meal and one drink only and that certain elements are played up for TV.
“They do get a salary for being hired as part of the yacht crew, they do get to keep their tips, and they do get a production fee.”
The truth is, superyacht crew are better paid, earlier in their career, and have greater potential for salary increases. Yacht crew also often receive weekends off and vacation pay!
Winter/summer seasons each last around six months and refer to both location and time of the year; summer yacht charter season spans from around April/May through October, while the winter season starts in November and runs through April.
Typically, there are two yacht charter seasons. That includes the summer season and the winter season. The summer season runs from the beginning of May until the end of October, while the winter one commences in November to April. However, there are a few exceptions to these time zones, depending on where you are.
The system isn't rocket science: the more stripes you have on your epaulets the higher you rank. Naturally, the captain sits at the top of the pecking order with four stripes while green crew will likely be given just the one, although this can vary from yacht to yacht depending on size and number of crew on board.
What is a typical yacht deckhand salary? Starting out as a junior, a yacht deckhand salary can be anywhere from $3,000 to $3,5000 per month, with very rare cases reporting to earn over $4,000 per month.
First, it gives the deck hands something to do rather than sit around on their hands looking useless and being bored. Secondly, it provides an opportunity to keep a clean and orderly ship so that when the time arises, they know exactly where everything is and how to get it.
Based on past seasons of the show, the cost of a 3-day charter on a luxury yacht can range anywhere from $30,000 to $50,000 or more.
10. Respect the crew who don't feature. Whilst it may look like all the yacht's crew are included in the show, the boat's first officer and engineer are not generally seen on screen. They stay on board to ensure the smooth running of day-to-day operations, but don't typically get involved with any of the charter drama.
Most crew members sleep in cabins, sharing their space with complete strangers, which means privacy is severely lacking. Most yacht crew must share bathrooms which can get interesting at the best of times!