How to become a Daywork Steward / Stewardess
You can start as a Daywork Steward / Stewardess with no yacht experience. You need the right tickets, a CV that shows work that transfers, and to be where the yachts hire. This page sets out each step.
Where you startAnd where it leads. A typical path, not a rule.
Daywork Steward / Stewardess
Year 0. Pay from about US$2,400 a month. Short-term interior crew hired by the day to clean, detail and prepare yachts in port, usually before a season, a charter or the end of a refit.
Junior Steward / Junior Stewardess
Year 0-1. Pay from about US$3,200 a month. Entry-level interior crew on a superyacht, handling cabins, laundry and guest service under the chief stew while learning yacht interior standards.
Steward / Stewardess
Year 1. Pay from about US$3,000 a month. Stewards and stewardesses keep a superyacht's interior immaculate, serve guests and run laundry and housekeeping to five-star standard.
Third Steward / Third Stewardess
Year 1-2. Pay from about US$3,200 a month. Third stew on a superyacht: housekeeping, laundry and guest service under the chief and second stew, usually on yachts from 45m upwards.
Before you applyWhat a Daywork Steward / Stewardess needs, from the Daywork Steward / Stewardess guide
Must have
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical certificate
Gets you hired
- Food Hygiene Level 2
- GUEST Interior Introductory course
- Silver service or housekeeping course
- Basic barista or wine course
- Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (PDSD)
Visas
- Schengen right to stay or EU passport for France, Italy and Spain
- B1/B2 visa for US-based yachts
What counts instead of yacht experienceOur advice
Captains hire a Daywork Steward / Stewardess for cabin and surface detailing, linen and laundry care and silver and brightwork polishing. With no yacht job behind you, show the same skills from work ashore. A background in five-star hospitality is the closest match, for example work as a front of house team member.
Write each job on your CV as what you did, with numbers: how many guests, how many boats, how many covers. Then list every skill below that you can prove.
- Cabin and surface detailing
- Linen and laundry care
- Silver and brightwork polishing
- Taking direction quickly
- Careful with fine finishes
- Reliable timekeeping
- Discretion on board
Your first stepsIn the order we suggest
Get the tickets a Daywork Steward / Stewardess must hold
You need STCW Basic Safety Training and ENG1 medical certificate before a yacht can put you to work as a Daywork Steward / Stewardess.
STCW and ENG1: what they are and what they cost →Write a first Daywork Steward / Stewardess CV
Keep it to one page. Put your tickets and your start date at the top, then the work that transfers: five-star hospitality.
See a Daywork Steward / Stewardess CV example →Create your crew profile
Upload that CV and we build your profile from it. Your name and contact details stay hidden. Captains and recruiters contact you. It is free.
Create your crew profile →Apply and look for daywork
Apply to open jobs and to crew agencies, and take daywork: a few paid days on a yacht is how most first-time crew get a reference.
Daywork Steward / Stewardess guide →Step up to Junior Steward / Junior Stewardess
The usual path puts Junior Steward / Junior Stewardess at year 0 to 1. Pay starts from about US$3,200 a month.
How to become a Junior Steward / Junior Stewardess →
QuestionsMore in the green crew guide
Can I become a Daywork Steward / Stewardess with no experience?
Yes. Daywork Steward / Stewardess is a first job on yachts. You need STCW Basic Safety Training and ENG1 medical certificate, and work that transfers, such as five-star hospitality, puts you ahead of other new crew.
How long does it take to become a Daywork Steward / Stewardess?
It is a starting role, so the time is what it takes to get the tickets and find the first job. From there, the usual path puts Junior Steward / Junior Stewardess at year 0 to 1.
What does a Daywork Steward / Stewardess earn at the start?
From about US$2,400 a month, by our Daywork Steward / Stewardess guide. Daywork is paid per day, usually EUR 120 to 170 in the Med and USD 150 to 200 in Fort Lauderdale. Figures above assume about 20 days' work in a month, which is never guaranteed, and there are no tips, leave or food and lodging unless the boat offers them.
Other paths from Daywork Steward / StewardessAll roles
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