WORK ON A YACHT CREW ADVICE

A private yacht is owned by an individual and is used exclusively by them, along with friends and family. A charter yacht also has an owner, but it is available for rent to third parties for a set period of time.

Charter yachts must follow the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006, which sets standards for crew working conditions. You can also read the MLC 2006 convention on your website in any of its three official languages.

The MLC (maritime and labour convention) 2006 stipulates that the limits on hours of work or rest shall be as follows:

Maximum hours of work shall not exceed:

• 14 hours in any 24-hour period

• 72 hours in any seven-day period

Or

Minimum hours of rest shall not be less than:

• 10 hours in any 24-hour period

• 77 hours in any seven-day period

However, during a busy season, you should expect to have to work unusual and long hours if required, as yachts operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

1. Yacht Type and Usage

The type of yacht and how it is used significantly affect salary levels:

• Motor vs. Sailing Yachts: Crew salaries can vary depending on whether the yacht is motor-powered or sail-powered.

• Private, Charter, or Mixed Use: Yachts used for private purposes, charter, or a combination of both have different operational demands and compensation structures.

• Cruising Schedule: The frequency and duration of cruises impact workload, which can influence salary offers.

2. Crew Member Experience and Qualifications

An individual’s background plays a major role in salary negotiations:

• Previous Experience: Years spent in specific roles within the yachting industry.

• Role Tenure: How long the candidate has held similar positions.

• Certifications and Qualifications: Recent licenses or specialised training that add value.

• Specialised Skills: Expertise in areas such as engineering, navigation, or hospitality can command higher salaries.

3. Why These Factors Matter

Considering these elements ensures that both yacht owners and crew members achieve fair, competitive compensation. A comprehensive review of the yacht’s requirements and the candidate’s profile leads to more accurate salary offers and smoother negotiations.

Some yachts enforce strict grooming and appearance standards, including a “no visible tattoos” policy. This means that tattoos should not be visible when wearing standard crew uniforms, such as polo shirts and shorts or skirts. To avoid surprises, it’s best to discuss your tattoos with your recruiter, who can advise you on which yachts may have restrictions.

The standard A1.4 Recruitment and Placement, paragraph 5 of the MLC 2006 states that (b) no fees or other charges are to be borne directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, by the seafarer other than the cost of the seafarer obtaining a national statutory medical certificate such as an ENG1, the national seafarer’s book and a passport, not including the cost of visas, which shall be borne with the shipowner.

While couple’s positions do exist, they are not very common so we always recommend focusing on finding single positions. Be sure to tell your recruiter that you are ideally looking for a couple’s positions so they can put you forward for it if one should come up. But remember that these are not as common so don’t risk missing out on some great positions you could find if you open yourself up to single positions.

Also, note that couple’s positions are generally offered on more senior levels.

Crew cabins are small and you will be sharing with one person of the same sex. Space is at a premium so best to travel light. You will be provided with crew uniforms, crew shoes and all toiletries so all you will need are a few civilian clothes for your off time. Laundry is taken care of by the stewardesses. Products such as the Kindle are great for yacht crew. Gone are the days of bulky books taking up valuable space!

Generally speaking, as long as you are employed by the yacht, you will live on board it. Depending on the yacht, it's program, and your position, you might have the option to live off the yacht and come on board during the work hours.

All the food will be provided for you onboard and meals will be cooked by the yacht Chef.

Look around you and look at what employed yacht crew wear during the day and copy that style. This will position you one step ahead of your competition. There are a few uniform shops in Antibes where you can buy everything you need. Generally speaking the professional yacht crew attire is a polo shirt or a shirt, white, blue or beige and plain shorts, skirts (not too short in length) or pants with boating shoes. Dangly and ornate jewellery is not appropriate.

The quick answer is no; English is the language of the seas and the working language on board yachts. Of course, being able to speak other languages is a bonus and can make life easier and enhance your experience. It can also help dealing with some guests on board the yacht and with local suppliers. Antibes and the South of France is the heart of the Mediterranean yachting industry and most suppliers who are serious players in the yachting industry will speak English.

There is a very large English-speaking community in the South of France, many yacht crew and captains live here with their families.

Breaking into the yachting industry can be challenging. Some people find work within a few days or a couple of weeks, while others will need more time.

The best way to break into the industry is to make sure you have done your research. Find out about the yachting seasons and best times to look for work, get your certificates and CV in order and register with reputable crew agencies, reach out to friends you may have in the industry, or ring an agency or training school for advice.

Always have a positive mindset. It can sometimes get a little discouraging to some junior crew when they see their friends or housemates getting daywork, etc., and they aren’t. But never give up. This industry is about perseverance, hard work and determination.

It all depends; some yacht crew jobs are seasonal jobs, typically these contracts run from April to the end of September for the Mediterranean season and from October to March for the Caribbean season. Seasonal jobs are most of the time for junior stewardesses and deckhands. Some yachts below 40 meters with only a one-season program may also only hire a chef for that period.

Generally speaking, captains, officers, engineers, and senior interior crew are employed on a permanent long-term contract.

Please note, commercial yachts, also known as charter yachts, will provide you with a SEA (seafarers' employment agreement), which is the correct term replacing the word  “contract”. Commercial yachts should give you the opportunity to examine and seek advice on the agreement before signing and joining the yacht. For further information about SEA, refer to the MLC 2006 Title 2 Regulation 2.1 Seafarer’s employment agreements. Private yachts are not required to issue a SEA.

Essentially, the yacht will travel wherever the owners want it to go. Some yachts might have established programs and cruising grounds that they tend to stick to year after year, but that is always open to change.

Generally speaking, the yacht will have the area it cruises during the season and then a port it will spend time in the off-season to maintain the yacht during the period it’s not used. Some yachts also do dual-season, which means they might spend the summer cruising the Mediterranean and winter in the Caribbean.

Yes, there is. The minimum age is 16. No person below the minimum age shall be employed. Also, night work under the age of 18 is prohibited. “Night” shall cover a period of at least nine hours starting no later than Midnight and ending no earlier than 5 am. This is in accordance with the MLC 2006 Standard A1.1 Minimum age. Please note that you can start the online registration procedure with YPI CREW before the age of 18, but we will wait until you turn 18 years old to place you on a yacht.

The minimum is 2.5 calendar days per month of employment. On medium to larger yachts, however, it is a common practice for senior crew to work on rotations.

The yachting industry is very rewarding, but it is not for everyone. Once you start working on board, you sign up not just for the job, but also for the unique lifestyle which comes with it. As an entry-level crew member, you will be expected to work very hard, be a dedicated team player, and the common goal is to ensure the guests have the best holiday. 

You need to be able to live in tight spaces with other crew members and have little privacy and time on your own. Plus, you must be totally service-oriented to ensure that each guest is happy. 

If you have what it takes to lead such a lifestyle 24-7 and perform well at a yachting job, then the sky is the limit, and you will be able to have a long and successful career afloat in a field of your choice.

In case of emergency, if your family is not able to reach you on the yacht through regular means of communication (telephone and email), your family can email us or call us. 

We will forward the email to you and follow up with a call to make sure the email has reached you. If we have received a phone call for you from your family with an urgent message, we will email you and also follow up with a phone call.

 Should we have placed you on a yacht through a yacht management company, we will also contact the yacht management company and forward the message. 

Your family can reach us at laurence@ypicrew.com and +33 4 92 90 46 10 during office hours. The email address laurence@ypicrew.com is monitored outside office hours, and the mobile number to reach us outside office hours, for emergencies, is +33 6 12 04 65 08. This is the number of Laurence Lewis, the President of YPI CREW. 

Please note that the above should only be used in case of emergency, if your family have failed to contact you directly. It is your responsibility to ensure that your family has your up-to-date email and telephone numbers on board the yacht you work on, and YPI CREW will not be held responsible for failed or delayed communication. YPI CREW will not charge you for the above.

While YPI CREW does not conduct criminal background checks in-house, we are proud partners of SafeSail, a trusted company specialising in advanced crew vetting. Safe Sail delivers intelligence-led vetting solutions, covering multiple risk areas such as criminal and civil records, financial red flags, reputational and integrity analysis, social media and adverse media checks, and more. This holistic approach ensures that crew vetting goes beyond basic checks.

Yes, YPI CREW is listed on the French national register of seafarer recruitment and placement services under number GM1/50. The list can be consulted here.

If you join a yacht registered in a flag state that has not ratified the MLC 2006, you may face certain risks regarding your working and living conditions. Without MLC protections, there is no guarantee that the yacht will follow the minimum international standards for crew welfare, including hours of rest, safe manning, medical care, or procedures for resolving complaints. You may also have less protection if a dispute arises about your contract, salary, or repatriation, as the flag state is not bound to enforce MLC requirements.

For more detailed guidance, you can read MLN 1.4.8 here.