Having a well trained harmonious crew working on your charter yacht will go a long way to ensuring the guests have an enjoyable time onboard.
Good reviews are key to a successful charter business, so let’s take a look at how you can maximize the chances of securing a great crew.
How to Create a Winning Crew Combination
Running a successful charter yacht starts with you as the yacht owner. One of the most important decisions you can make is to hire the right Captain and provide them with the right tools to do their job to the best of their ability.
The captain is ultimately responsible for the yacht and all persons onboard, that’s you, your family, guests and crew alike. Their day to day responsibility is for safe operation both in port and at sea.
The captain - owner relationship is key. You will want a good communicator, as you will rely on them to ensure the yacht is fully prepared for guests to arrive.
The role of the captain is multi-faceted: a mix of hotel manager and master mariner. They must command respect from their crew and be able to motivate and inspire them. They must be personable so the guests feel comfortable onboard, whilst appreciating the captain’s paramount responsibility for their safety during their stay.
A good captain will lead their crew by example and inspire a strong work ethic onboard. A good crew working together harmoniously will naturally create a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere onboard, where both you and your charter guests will immediately feel at home.
The devil is always in the detail and repeat clients will appreciate being welcomed with their preferred drink and the galley stocked with their favourite biscuits. The high level of service provided by a well trained crew is essential to a successful charter. If the weather is poor but the crew are great, there are no complaints, not so when it’s vice versa.
The Key Role of the Yacht Chef
What comes forth from the galley can literally make or break a yacht charter holiday experience. If the food is good the clients will be happy.
It is well known that a charter client will often base their choice of yacht on the sample menu and have even been known to follow a chef from one yacht to another.
Good chefs are worth their weight in gold so be prepared to invest in a high crew salary for this invaluable member of your team."
In addition to the creation of the menu, the chef is in charge of provisioning and cleaning the galley area, as well as feeding the crew.
A chef must adapt their menu for allergies and dietary preferences of the charter guests, whilst keeping the menu varied and delicious throughout their stay onboard. They must have the ability to switch from Michelin-star style cuisine to comfort food at a moment’s notice, in addition to accommodating any change of time for dinner (and responding to a guest’s request for a bacon sandwich in the early hours).
Teamwork - The Crucial Role in Yacht Crew Success
Onboard a yacht. the crew work together like a finely-oiled machine. There are specific areas where heads of department run specialised teams. From the interior to deck, engineering to command, all departments interlink and share the ultimate goal of operational safety and guest experience.
The Chief Steward(ess) and the interior team they manage maintain the interior and provide the service of food and drink, as well as engaging with the guests for any personal requirements.
Attention to detail is key to creating an environment where the guest feels well taken care of. From making a Bloody Mary with just the right amount of spice to noticing a guest is left handed so adapting the table setting, the ‘stew’ team maintain service to the highest standard onboard.
The interior team are often responsible for events such as arranging shore excursions, shopping trips and beach barbecues; working alongside the deck team for transportation and the galley team for the perfect picnic.
On smaller yachts, a stew may double as the cook, and may have a junior stew to assist with cabins, cleaning and laundry.
The engineering team are the crew maintaining the systems onboard, ensuring every item from the toilets to the gearbox are operating at their optimum.
On the smaller yachts, the captain may double up as captain/engineer, however on larger yachts, there may be a chief engineer, second and even third engineer in place, all well trained and correctly certified.
Deck crew are responsible for maintaining the exterior of the yacht, and any water toys and tenders used throughout daily operations. Maintaining a superyacht is continual work, from polishing stainless steel to varnishing teak, and from equipment service checks to providing the taxi service between ship and shore, a deck team may even be required to assist with service.
Depending on the size of the yacht, the team may be led by a senior deckhand or bosun. As with the interior crew, charter guest enjoyment can be increased by their interaction with an efficient deck crew, who maintain a balance between professionalism and friendliness. If a deckhand ensures the paddleboard is ready and waiting for the guest who fancies a quiet early morning jaunt before breakfast, it’s all part and parcel of exceptional service.
How Much Does a Yacht Crew Cost?
The size of a crew will generally be decided by the size of a yacht and the number of crew berths available.
Salaries are scaled according to size, for example a captain of a 33m (108ft) yacht may secure a monthly salary of EUR 9,000€ (USD 9,600$), whereas a captain on an 81m (265ft) will achieve a monthly salary of EUR 20,000€ (USD 21,400$).
Salary guides are regularly posted in the yachting press so a new yacht owner can be guided by industry standards and budget accordingly.
If, as a new yacht owner, you decide to engage a yacht crew recruitment agency to help secure the finest crew for your yacht, expect to pay a percentage of the monthly fee for their service.
A recruitment agency can charge 80% to 100% of one month’s salary and provide a set period of time as a guarantee; should the crew fail to pass their probationary period, the candidate will be replaced free of charge.
In addition, there are agencies that specialise in particular roles, for example dealing exclusively with chefs. A chef on a yacht between 30m - 40m (98ft - 131ft) will secure a monthly salary of between EUR 6,000€ and EUR 8,000€ (USD 6,400$ and USD 8,500$) increasing to EUR 10,000€ (USD 10,700$) onboard yachts over 80m (262ft).
For a more in-depth look at crew costs and contracts, including rotational contracts, take a look at our guide below.
