Confessions Of A Super Yacht Stewardess

1. Stewardesses Are On Call 24/7

Image Source / BOAT InternationalYou may not be surprised to hear that stewardesses need to be at the beck and call of their very high profile guests, any time of day or night, which is why they can be called upon 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to get their guests whatever they need.

2. If Their Guests Are Up, They're Up

Image Source / BOAT InternationalThe stewardesses have a responsibility to be the face of the yacht, which means they need to be seen and present whenever the guests are up and about. So their routines align with their guest's schedule so that they can lead the service that their guest needs.

3. Many Stewardesses Document Their Lives On Instagram

Image Source / OnboardOnlineFor such a luxury and Instagram-worthy lifestyle, it makes sense why so many stewardesses take to the gram to reveal what life is like onboard a super yacht! Expect to see many photos of luxurious locations.

4. Their Schedules Are Non-Stop With 13-Hour Days

Image Source / Flying FishIt's not surprising stewardesses have to work very long shifts on super yachts if they need to be ready for any guest command. They can work 13 hour days where they get a 2 hour break in the middle of the day, and then a 9 hour break overnight - which isn't much time for downtime when you need those hours to sleep!

5. They're Under Pressure To Create The Perfect Table Settings

Image Source / The Yacht StewWhen you're a high profile guest paying the big bucks for a super yacht, you're going to expect your dining table settings to look amazing - and the pressure is on for the stewardesses to do just that. As well as serving the meals, they have to dress the tables perfectly, too.

6. But They Might Get Inspiration For The Whole Table From One Specific Item

Image Source / PinterestOne stewardess had a guest who had bought a wine decanter he wanted using at the dinner table to show off to his guests - so the stewardess ran with that and created the whole table display based around the theme of wine inspired by the decanter.

7. Mixology Is Actually A Huge Part Of The Job

Image Source / San Diego ReaderStewardesses have to be many things, and it's not just serving the meals, or serving drinks already made like wine ready to go. Mixology is a large part of the job where stewardesses have to be ready to create any drink a guest might like, like a variety of cocktails.

8. And They Also Have To Learn To Cut Cigars

Image Source / RedditSomeone who can afford to spend time on a super yacht is also probably the same type of billionaire to smoke very expensive cigars, which means that the stewardesses also need to learn how to cut them correctly as part of the service.

9. They Visit Many Different Places During Their Job

Image Source / ReutersOne huge perk of this job has to be all the different places they can see, and a world apart from any average weekend getaway. The guests have a lot of money, so they'll want to travel to very luxurious and expensive places, meaning stewardess get to see that, too.

10. It's A Very Materialistic Gig

Image Source / WikipediaIt goes without saying that to be in the super yacht industry means working with guests with A LOT of money, it's all about the materialism. But for stewardesses who aren't very rich and have to take part in all that materialism and luxury, does it take its toll?

11. Some Stewardesses Do Try To Find More Meaning

Image Source / CNNYes, some stewardesses can try to catch a break from all that materialism and try and find another purpose during their day to day jobs - like one stewardess who took to teaching yoga on board to find more 'meaning' and harmony.

12. It's Not Only Humans On Board

Image Source / BOAT InternationalThe rich guests staying on the super yachts can of course do whatever they like, which includes bringing their own beloved pets with them. This can include dogs, as experienced by stewardesses the time that a tiny dog named King came on board and was expected to be treated like royalty.

13. And Even The Animals Can Be Very Demanding

Image Source / BOAT InternationalThe dog named King was a spoiled pooch who was expected to have very specific (and expensive) meals cooked for him by the stewardesses, as well as the meals prepared for the human guests. Meaning stewardesses can have their work cut out even more in the same hours if they have to prepare a cooked meal for a dog, too!

14. And Guests With Animals Can Expect To Treat Them Like Babies

Image Source / BOAT InternationalIf stewardesses are working with guests who bring along their prized pets, they can also expect to see some spoiled behaviour, which includes a dog being allowed to sit at the dinner table, a dog being fed food from its owner's own silver fork, or even having their expensive plate of food put on the floor for the dog to eat!

15. They May Just Get To Meet Their Dream Guests

Image Source / RankerWith such a high-profile guest list for these yachts, it's no surprise every once and a while a stewardess might just meet a famous person they absolutely adore, have a crush on or maybe the only person in the world that makes their knees go weak! It does happen.

16. And Stewardesses Can Lose Their Cool And Forget Their Training

Image Source / Flying FishIn these cases where stewardesses may meet particularly famous people that they've always dreamed of meeting, of course they might act like any one of us would - stuttering, stumbling and forgetting our own names. They've definitely had it happen to them!

17. Training Includes How To Properly Address Royalty Or Other Important Figures

Image Source / Westminster AbbeyPart of the stewardess training isn't just about how to perform duties, but it's also about how to address certain people with official titles. Different titles, such as Duke, Lord, King etc need to be known for the right people - and it's important to remember what to say in a particular star-struck moment!

18. Laundry Can Go Very Wrong

Image Source / Daily MailMost of us will know that handy laundry tip: always check your pockets before you put anything in the washing machine! While it doesn't matter too much if we keep a soggy tissue in there by accident, it does matter if you're a stewardess washing the (expensive) clothes of important guests. One stewardess accidentally left a pen in a load of shirts belonging to a golfer and ruined them!

19. But, Fortunately, Some High-Profile Guests Are Laid Back

Image Source / YPI YachtsIn this example, the high-profile golfer whose own brand of signature polo shirts had been ruined by a pen was luckily very laid back about it all - and actually found it funny. We have to think that some other guests might not have been too happy if it was them, though...

20. And Spoiled Children Can Cause Havoc

Image Source / EthissaIt's not just pampered pooches or spoiled adults that can cause problems for stewardesses - it's the children they bring on board with them, too. Children of very, very rich people are bound to be raised with a silver spoon in their mouth, so you can imagine the kind of attitudes a stewardess is up against...

21. Including Pooping In Their Beds

Image Source / Hindustan TimesAnd no, this isn't a baby or toddler we're talking about... this was a 16 year old boy, the son of a billionaire. He apparently pooped in his bed every night, and when the stewardesses told the nanny about it, the boy got revenge by rubbing greasy fingers over mirrors and the grand piano!

22. Time Off Is Either Spent Sleeping Or Drinking

Image Source / PinterestStaff members on board a super yacht will often party together, and even yacht guests can ask stewardesses to come and have a drink with them. So any time off is usually a 50/50 split of sleeping or partying!

23. There's A Zero-Tolerance Policy On Drugs - For Guests And Staff

Image Source / Delamere HealthA lavish lifestyle and paying for a super yacht may see some people dabble in drugs as well as alcohol - but it's simply not tolerated on board these super yachts! Guests can be refused access to the ship if they have drugs, or even kicked off if drugs are found. It's a strict policy because the captain could lose their licence if drugs are found!

24. The Guests Can Demand Whatever They Like, Whenever They Like

Image Source / Yacht Charter FleetAt the end of the day, these billionaires and gazillionaires are paying a fortune for a luxury yacht experience - and that means the whole shabang. They expect stewardesses to do anything they ask (within reason), even impromptu, like a party on the beach, or a certain item of food they suddenly have a hankering for.

25. The Customer Is Always Right

Image Source / Work On A YachtPeople who have worked - or do work - in customer service will know that the customer, in fact, is nearly always wrong. And in certain jobs you might have lost your temper a bit at a very rude customer. But on board a super yacht, the guest is always right - even when they're not - except in circumstances of abuse. Stewardesses can't fire back at a guest who is wrong.

26. They Get Very Big Tips

Image Source / Metro UKStewardesses get their set daily rate, but they can also enjoy rather large tips that guests choose to bestow upon them. On average, stewardesses can get around 10% of what the clients pay for their yacht experience. Or, some boats have clients pay an upfront extra fee which will then be split across the staff.

27. They Can't Drink If Guests Are On Board

Image Source / Work On A YachtThis means even if they have some down time below deck and want a quick glass of wine, it's a no-go. Stewardesses need to be ready for any request and be presentable at all times, so that means no drinking on the job!

28. Yes, People Have Sex - Even Staff With Guests

Image Source / SuperYacht TimesSpending all that time in close proximity with each other at sea is bound to lead to - er - something, and yes staff have sex with staff, and occasionally might hook up with the guests staying on board, too. The clients may also bring their own people on board who they want to have a little fun with!

29. It's Actually Not A Contracted Position

Image Source / DockwalkFor such a high profile job with high profile people, you'd expect some form of contract or at least a required notice period, but nope - staff are allowed to walk away from the job any time they like if they're not enjoying the work!

30. The Cleaning And Maintenance Of The Ship Is Round The Clock

Image Source / Flying FishAs you might expect, the cleaning on board just never ends. Like we mentioned before, the only time stewardesses get to themselves is time they need to sleep, and that's because there's always something that needs doing, cleaning or maintaining!

31. Privacy Doesn't Really Apply On A Superyacht

Image Source / WikipediaAnd this applies for the guests, not the staff! Staff need to keep an eye on guests to make sure they're okay and act quickly if they should need anything, which means privacy for them is pretty much non-existent. Staff need to use earpieces and cameras, for example, to keep an eye on things.

32. And Cameras Can Be Handy For Learning What A Guest Does Or Doesn't Like From The Service

Image Source / SuperYacht TimesIf a table of important guests are sitting down for breakfast and stewardesses are keeping an eye on the cameras, they may see a guest move something to the side of their plate, grumble about something or spit something back out. This is all a learning curve so they can report to the chef what not to put in their next time... That's just one example, of course.

33. And Staff Can See Rather Risqué Behaviour

Image Source / Mindful Family MedicineThis could be with their own eyes, or through the cameras when making sure guests are okay. Some guests may decide they want to spend their time onboard in the nude - or at least sunbathe nude - or maybe just pass out drunk in a compromising position. Other things may also happen, like spouse-swapping or drunken arguments.

34. But Staff Can Also Witness Embarrassing Things Their Guests Would Rather Forget...

Image Source / The MirrorA lot of guests may get into rebellious behaviour, or do things they think look cool but then most certainly doesn't... Staff can bear witness to a few big oopsies, such as guests being hit in the face by fish, people trying to do splits with one leg on the boat and their other leg on the tender, or even just falling on their face.

35. The Salt From The Sea Makes Cleaning Even Harder

Image Source / Encyclopedia BritannicaThe salt from the sea can make cleaning a superyacht even harder. Even a very, very short journey through the water can mean hours of cleaning because of the amount of problems salt from the sea can cause to the boat.

36. Sports Stars Are Apparently The Messiest Guests

Image Source / Blazer's EdgeIt's claimed that out of all the lavish guests on board a superyacht, sports stars are the ones who cause the biggest mess - especially when it comes to trashing the place. One example was apparently an NBA star who had a super clean yacht first thing in the morning only to have it trashed by lunch - they obviously work fast!

37. Stern-To-Stern Cleaning Takes Around 10 Days

Image Source / More MarineEven without cleaning up after NBA stars' vomit, a stern to stern cleaning of a superyacht would take around 10 full days, based on six people doing the job. That's a very long cleaning job! And that's not even factoring in all the other jobs staff have to do.

38. And Then There's The Time It Takes To Clean One Yacht State Room

Image Source / CharterworldApparently, you could clean around 6 hotel rooms in the time it takes to clean one stateroom on a superyacht. The cleaning of one of these rooms can including using a Q-tip to clean a bathroom cabinet, using toothpicks for cleaning grout and suctioning walls and air vents with a vacuum.

39. Yacht Cleaners Hate Guests Who Sleep In Tanning Oil And Makeup

Image Source / Molly MaidApart from the fact that sleeping in your makeup is a no-no anyway, the amount of effort it takes for cleaning staff to change the linens of beds when clients sleep in oil and makeup is a HUGE job. Apparently it can cost thousands of dollars worth of linens to replace the mess made from these kinds of stains.

40. They Also Hate Fried Food

Image Source / Country Living MagazineWhen the crumbs of fried food are dropped onto the wooden floors of yachts, it's very, very difficult to clean. That's because the greasy crumbs aren't easily swept us - as we all know from our own cleaning if we drop crumbs on the floor - which means staff have to pick up the crumbs by hand one by one.

41. Sometimes A Second Boat Is Needed For Prostitutes

Image Source / British GQWhile there are now very, very strict laws about what can be on board a superyacht, including a strict drug policy, the same doesn't apply to prostitutes. A lot of the time, prostitutes can be on other boats, which have been organised to follow after the main yacht only for the prostitutes to be transferred and swapped from boat to boat whenever!

42. Guests Can Often Pay For Two Weeks To Split Up Family Time And Party Time

Image Source / BOAT InternationalIt's not uncommon for a superyacht to be rented for two weeks, so that the first week can be used for civilised family time, and then the second week for the kind of party antics you can only expect at a bachelor party. Which means that boat load of prostitutes is probably scheduled for the second week, then...

43. It Can Take Seven People To Stock A Fridge

Image Source / Power & MotoryachtJust think of the amount of food and drink! Every single guest needs to be taken into account for the grocery list - including any pets on board. Some pets can be expected to have a week's worth of gourmet meals cooked for them. Babies can also require full meals only to be put in blenders for them!

44. And Milk Can Cause Serious Problems

Image Source / WikipediaMilk can be problematic even for us everyday folk when we want to drink it every day but keep a fresh stock of it, only for the use by date to come quicker than expected. Well imagine what it's like on a superyacht. Apparently it can cause a huge problem when A LOT of milk needs to be stocked up for everyone's coffees, with the problem of how exactly to keep it staying fresh.

45. Sometimes A Chopper Needs To Be Sent In To Re-Stock Certain Food Items

Image Source / CharterWorldIt's bound to happen that staff can only do so much when it comes to guests food and drinks requirements, because chances are guests will demand more and more. This is often the case with caviar, apparently, which can actually be choppered in to the superyacht to replenish the stock!

46. The Luxury Lifestyle Can Rub Off Far Too Much On Staff, Too

Image Source / Yachting PagesAlthough staff don't make the super big bucks like their clients, they can still get a complex about the lavish lifestyle. Some crew members may go all out on their parties out, including buying expensive designer gear and champagne.

47. Crew Members Can Sometimes Keep Expensive Items Left Behind

Image Source / ELLEWe've all left the odd sock or two in hotel rooms we've stayed in, but it's a whole different ball game with superyachts. Guests may leave behind very expensive items, like designer clothing gear, but because they're so rich, they're not bothered about it being returned to them - which means crew members can keep it.

48. Superyachts Can Also Carry Very, Very Expensive Pieces Of Art

Image Source / WikipediaYou may not have even thought about how the walls are decorated on superyachts, but yep, even the walls go for the big bucks too. You might find masterpieces like Picassos which the staff end up seeing more than the owner of the art themselves! Other expensive art pieces include Fabergé eggs and custom wallpaper!

49. The Depreciation Of Buying A Yacht Is Pretty Steep

Image Source / BOAT InternationalWe all know how it goes about buying a new car when they say you lose a big portion of what it's worth when you drive it off the courtyard. The same applies to superyachts - on a much bigger scale, of course. Apparently 20% of what a superyacht owner paid for the boat is lost the minute the ship leaves the yard.

50. South Florida Is Apparently The New Med

Image Source / Time OutWhile the Mediterranean used to be the popular sailing spot, now South Florida has become the go-to spot for superyachters looking for 12-month-a-year party central. Top spots include Palm Beach and Miami, where land parties can see drinking, partying and even drugs.