Please Read This First Before Registering or Applying to Yacht Jobs
New to yachts? Free advice is available here at SuperYachtandVillaJobs.com for anyone looking for jobs on yachts. Please read this first before registering with us or applying to jobs.
Should You Use a Crew Agent or Apply Using Your Own Efforts?
Competition for crew jobs on yachts can be fierce, so we recommend combining registering with reputable crew agents and applying through jobs on social media platforms like Facebook and of course registering and using SuperYachtandVillaJobs.com to find work.
If you're able to travel and look for work in person, this is a great option — we highly recommend newcomers head to a yacht centre like Antibes or Palma, meet agents in person to register and discuss options, join Facebook groups, and go to yachts directly ("dock walking") for jobs.
Chefs: standards and expectations are high from owners, guests and crew alike, so do your groundwork before applying. Get familiar with provisioners and local suppliers, prepare guest and crew menus ready to show captains, and create a portfolio with your paperwork, certificates, menus and food photos to show agents and captains.
The hardest part is getting your first job — once you're in, doors open and the next job is easier to find. Always get a written reference from the yacht captain, and confirmation of any sea time from the Captain so you can prove it later. Stick out the full duration — aim for a full season or, better, a year on your CV. Be patient, be motivated, and remember first impressions count. Work clean in your galley, keep your stores organised, plan ahead, and respect your fellow crew — they're your family from now on.
Chefs: Which Job Is Right for Me?
First, decide whether you want to run your own galley independently, or work as part of a bigger team:
Sole Chef
Manages menu planning, ordering, shopping and all food-related needs on the yacht, as well as the cooking itself.
Crew Chef
Cooks for crew, creates crew menus, makes provisioning order lists, puts away provisions, keeps galley spotless.
Crew/Sous/2nd Chef
Cooks for crew, creates crew menus, makes provisioning order lists, puts away provisions, keeps galley spotless, focuses more on assisting the head chef with guest food or desserts or baking or pastry work. Dependent on experience and skills of the Sous/2nd Chef.
Head Chef
Manages at least one other chef and runs all catering on the yacht — cooking, provisions, accounts and orders.
What Type of Yacht Should I Join? Private, Charter or Private/Charter
Private yacht chefs cook what the owner and their guests want. The private chef learns what the boss's preferences are and cooks to that. Once onboard, and once the chef has proven themselves to the owner, they can look at introducing new ideas and dishes for the owner to try — though some owners know exactly what they want and the chef simply has to deliver that. With a live-aboard owner, the skill is inventing new menus each week while still respecting the owner's preferences. Some owners only use their private yacht for a few weeks a year, and some lend it to friends for "private charters" — there's a real variety of chef roles out there.
Charter chefs cook for new guests each trip, each with their own specific preferences, so charter chefs need to know a vast repertoire of cuisines from around the globe. The upside is that guests are only onboard for a week or two before they're gone again. Charter crew also usually receive charter tips from guests at the end of the charter, which is a good way to earn great extra income during the season on top of base salary.
The hardest chef job on superyachts is Sole Chef on a 55m-sized yacht, where the chef works alone cooking for up to 12 charter guests and 15 crew — up to 27 mouths to feed single-handedly. Stamina is needed for these jobs, but many charter chefs thrive on this setup. The tips make it all worthwhile!
Private/Charter yachts offer both owner use and external charters, so you get the best of both worlds. Some private chef roles also receive tips from the owner or guests — it all varies depending on the type of people they are!
What Certificates Do I Need to Work as a Chef on Yachts?
To get a job as a chef on a yacht, you'll need:
1STCW Basic Training — search "STCW 2010 training" plus your country to find approved providers. Chefs working on yachts over 50m should take the PDSD course rather than PSA.
2ENG1 or Seafarers Medical Certificate — Dependent on the yacht flag you might take a different medical but make sure its all accepted by the superyacht you want to work on first. Both the UK MCA ENG1 and the Norwegian Medical Certificate are official seafarer fitness documents, but they are issued under different national authorities. The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) officially recognizes the Norwegian Maritime Authority's medical certificate as an equivalent to the ENG1 for service on many vessels
Key Differences
- Issuing Authority: The ENG1 is issued by the UK MCA via approved doctors, whereas the Norwegian certificate is issued under the authority of Norway
For an MCA-approved doctor (
UK list or
overseas list). Make sure it's valid for at least six months, as yachts will check this when you join.
3Food Safety or Food Hygiene Level 2+ — we recommend an MCA-approved course, Level 2 upwards, with the qualification number on the
MCA's recognised qualifications list. We recommend all yacht chefs sit an approved Level 3 course, since as a department head you're in charge of the galley's operations and hygiene. Note: these MCA-approved courses are required if you plan to apply for a UK Ship's Cook Certificate — non-listed courses won't be accepted.
4Ship's Cook Certificate — depending on the yacht's flag and crew numbers, you may also need this. See our free info site at
shipscookcertificate.com.
Start Your Superyacht Career
With the right preparation, qualifications, and guidance, a career in the superyacht industry is highly achievable.
Superyacht & Villa Jobs has been helping candidates secure roles in the industry for years, offering expert guidance and access to exclusive opportunities worldwide.
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Browse our full range of career advice articles to deepen your understanding and improve your chances of success in the industry — see the Superyacht Career Advice Hub.
If you have not yet registered with our central database here or via our Network Sites, it is an easy and straightforward procedure. Simply complete and make your profile visible and upload your CV and you will then also be found when Captains, family offices or other yacht or land based employers search our database.
Once you are registered and set up job alerts by email, you can check in online through the website anytime by clicking on 'Log In' and then go ahead with updating your availability and apply to jobs.