How does the working week differ?
On a charter yacht the itinerary is fixed before the guests arrive, with a start port, an end port and a daily plan. Captain Jack Brown, writing for Superyacht Content, describes moving anchorage or going into port several times a day, with tenders, water toys and lines packed away and set up again each time. BOAT International tells charter guests that crew normally work 16 to 18 hour days, from dawn to midnight. In the busy seasons YPI Crew says charter yachts are often fully booked, which leaves crew very little time off.
A private yacht moves when the owner wants it to. YPI Crew says that means more time alongside, where crew usually work a normal maintenance day of roughly nine to five. The catch is that an owner trip can be open-ended. Captain Brown warns that you may be on board for a long guest stay without knowing when the guests will leave, and may go weeks without a day off while they are aboard.
What about tips and pay?
YPI Crew says salaries are usually the same on private and charter yachts. The difference is the tip. Charter guests leave it at their own discretion. Dockwalk reports that the MYBA guidelines suggest 5 to 15 per cent of the gross charter fee, and only for excellent service. Brokers quoted by BOAT International advise 5 to 20 per cent, usually lower in the Mediterranean and higher in the US and Caribbean. Capt. Jason Halvorsen told Dockwalk that some cultures are not used to tipping: US guests typically tip 15 to 20 per cent, while Europeans usually give around 10 to 15 per cent.
Tips go to the captain and are usually split equally across the whole crew, engineers included. A bigger yacht does not always mean a bigger share, because the tip is divided among more crew. On private yachts, YPI Crew says some owners pay generous end-of-season or annual bonuses, and some offer benefits such as health cover. Dockwalk adds that some owners give a staff dinner instead of cash.
How do the guests differ?
On a private yacht you serve the same family again and again. You learn who wants what at breakfast and when the children will want the water toys. Captain Brown says owners often treat the yacht as an extension of their home or office, are closely involved in standards on board, and value discretion because crew see their private affairs. Most like to see the same faces each trip, and loyal crew are often rewarded for it.
On charter, the guests change every week or two, and many are on a superyacht for the first time. Crew put on themed dinners, coach water sports, run beach barbecues and look after children. Captain Brown says you need stamina, an outgoing manner and calm under constant change of plan. You also carry more of the safety load, because charter guests rarely have much experience at sea.
Which suits whom?
Wilsonhalligan, a crew agency, says private yachts tend to offer more job security, lower turnover and longer leave when the owner is away. It also says charter yachts often carry larger crews and turn crew over faster, so promotion can come sooner. YPI Crew adds that charter yachts tend to stick to the main seasonal grounds, the Caribbean in winter and the Mediterranean in summer. Private yachts can go wherever the owner chooses, including remote cruising grounds.
Charter suits you if you are physically fit, enjoy meeting new people and want to save hard over a season. Private suits you if you want a settled routine, long service with one family and a reference built on years in one post. When an agent offers you a yacht, Denison Yachting's placement manager advises asking how many charters are already confirmed. Many yachts mix owner trips and charter, and the bookings tell you which kind of season you are joining.
What you need
- Discretion (private)Private owners expect confidentiality, because crew are close to the family's private and business affairs.
- Flexibility (private)Owner trips can run with no fixed end date, so you must be ready to stay on board until the guests leave.
- Stamina (charter)Charter crew spend long days on their feet, with repeated anchorage moves and water sports set-ups.
- Guest-facing manner (charter)Charter guests expect friendly, outgoing crew who can answer questions and run activities all day.
- Safety awareness (charter)Charter guests are often new to the sea, so crew must watch closely around tenders, toys and the swim platform.
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Questions people ask
Do charter crew earn more than private crew?
YPI Crew says base salaries are usually the same, so the gap comes from charter tips. Tips are at the guest's discretion and are never guaranteed. Some private owners close the gap with end-of-season bonuses or benefits such as health cover.
How much is a typical charter tip?
MYBA guidance, as reported by Dockwalk, suggests 5 to 15 per cent of the gross charter fee for excellent service. Brokers quoted by BOAT International give 5 to 20 per cent, lower in the Mediterranean and higher in the US and Caribbean. Dockwalk reports that tipping customs vary: US guests typically tip 15 to 20 per cent, Europeans around 10 to 15 per cent, and some cultures are not used to tipping.
Is the tip split evenly?
Usually, yes. Captains quoted by Dockwalk, and BOAT International's advice to guests, describe the tip going to the captain and being shared equally across all crew, including those the guests rarely see.
Do private yacht crew get more time off?
Often, when the owner is away, because the yacht spends more time alongside on a normal working day. When the owner is aboard, trips can run for weeks with few days off and no fixed end date.
Is a private yacht a more secure job?
Wilsonhalligan says private yachts tend to have lower crew turnover, and many owners value familiar, loyal crew. That security still depends on one owner's plans for the yacht.
Can green crew start on a charter yacht?
Yes, and many do. A former stew writing for Superyacht Content warns that a heavy charter programme can be a hard first season, so ask how many charters are booked before you accept.
Sources
- YPI Crew: Luxury yacht jobs, private or charter yacht?
- Wilsonhalligan: Private yacht vs charter yacht
- Superyacht Content: Private or charter, which is best for you?
- Dockwalk: How much do yacht crew make in tips?
- BOAT International: Superyacht charter tipping guide
- Superyacht Content: Working on a yacht as a stewardess
- Yotspot: Private vs charter?
