A lot of yacht jobs offer 5 months on; 1 month off rotations. You can also find jobs which are 3:1 if you're lucky. Then again certain yachts only want to hire people for the summer season or the winter season. So depending on what type of job you are after there are plenty of opportunities for time off.
Traditionally the yachting industry in the Mediterranean runs from April until September and from November to April in the States & Caribbean. Having said that, the possibilities are endless with many yachts circumnavigating the world.
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.
Yacht crew work all season, some leave some stay, some want a break and some will go and do training, therefore, positions become available.
There is no guarantee of full-time employment. If you're looking for year-round employment with regular hours, then think carefully before becoming a yacht crew member. Most jobs are temporary - six weeks here, two weeks there - and you may find yourself with down time (and bills to pay) between jobs.
Many yacht positions are seasonal. Year-round employment is more likely for senior crew like the captain and department heads, but not all yachts see year-round use. And some yachts may use different crew in different locales between seasonal moves.
In the Mediterranean, the best time of year is March – May, when yachts start crewing up. In the US and Bahamas/Caribbean area, the busiest time to find work is during the Spring and Fall, but we also have jobs posted year-round.
During off-season, yachts can schedule yard periods, haul-outs, and major projects.
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.
Each season is put together from around-the-clock footage of the cast members shot over the course of six weeks.
18 and older is the recommended age for joining a yacht as crew.
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.
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.
"I think that's why fans respond to the show the way they do because it's very authentic." Though the drama of Below Deck is already pretty juicy, it seems things heat up even more when the production crew leaves. The show is filmed for only six weeks because of the high-cost of chartering the yacht.
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.
Many jobs after yachting include working for UHNWIs, in a role such as personal assistant, housekeeper, estate manager, butler, or private chef. Ex-crew are ideally suited to these positions as they uniquely understand the needs, desires, and exacting standards required by UHNWIs.
But the mega bucks go to the top dogs, Captain Lee and Captain Sandy, who on a 185-foot superyacht make between $150-$210,000 a year.
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.
The amount of money the crew gets in tips is not realistic.
“On a yacht of that size, [a good tip] would be $5,000 a person for seven days of work,” she explained. “Our charters are a little bit shorter, just so we can make the show. But everything else is the same… we usually get around $2,500, $2,000.
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.
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.
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.
Attitudes towards tattoos in the workplace are changing and the superyacht industry is no exception. Body art has become increasingly popular worldwide and this has resulted in a change in view towards tattoos within the industry. So the straight answer is yes, you can get jobs on board superyachts if you have tattoos.
Make no mistake working on a Superyacht is hard work. Although it may seem like fun in the sunshine, Superyacht crew work long hours for their money. While the boss or guests are onboard you may find yourself working 14-hour days for weeks at a time.