How to become a Housekeeping / Laundry Assistant
You can start as a Housekeeping / Laundry Assistant 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.
Housekeeping / Laundry Assistant
Year 0. Pay from about US$2,900 a month. Entry-level interior crew who run the laundry and keep cabins and guest areas spotless, mostly on yachts of 60m and over with a dedicated housekeeping team.
Laundry Steward / Stewardess
Year 1. Pay from about US$3,500 a month. Runs the laundry on larger superyachts.
Steward / Stewardess
Year 1-2. 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.
Second Steward / Second Stewardess
Year 3-4. Pay from about US$3,800 a month. The second steward or stewardess is deputy to the chief stew, running service, housekeeping and the junior interior team when the chief is off.
Before you applyWhat a Housekeeping / Laundry Assistant needs, from the Housekeeping / Laundry Assistant guide
Must have
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical certificate
Gets you hired
- PDSD (Proficiency in Designated Security Duties)
- GUEST Introduction to Yacht Interiors
- Food Hygiene Level 2
- Fabric care or yacht laundry course
Visas
- US B1/B2 for Fort Lauderdale and the Caribbean
- Schengen right to work or visa for Mediterranean yachts
What counts instead of yacht experienceOur advice
Captains hire a Housekeeping / Laundry Assistant for fabric and garment care, steam pressing and ironing and cabin and bathroom detailing. 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.
- Fabric and garment care
- Steam pressing and ironing
- Cabin and bathroom detailing
- Linen stock control
- Stain removal
- Working to a schedule
- Discretion around guests
Your first stepsIn the order we suggest
Get the tickets a Housekeeping / Laundry Assistant must hold
You need STCW Basic Safety Training and ENG1 medical certificate before a yacht can put you to work as a Housekeeping / Laundry Assistant.
STCW and ENG1: what they are and what they cost →Write a first Housekeeping / Laundry Assistant 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 Housekeeping / Laundry Assistant 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.
Housekeeping / Laundry Assistant guide →Step up to Laundry Steward / Stewardess
The usual path puts Laundry Steward / Stewardess at year 1. Pay starts from about US$3,500 a month.
How to become a Laundry Steward / Stewardess →
QuestionsMore in the green crew guide
Can I become a Housekeeping / Laundry Assistant with no experience?
Yes. Housekeeping / Laundry Assistant 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 Housekeeping / Laundry Assistant?
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 Laundry Steward / Stewardess at year 1.
What does a Housekeeping / Laundry Assistant earn at the start?
From about US$2,900 a month, by our Housekeeping / Laundry Assistant guide. Charter tips are shared across the crew and can add 10-15% of the charter fee per trip, split evenly on most yachts. Larger yachts often offer rotation or generous leave once you are permanent.
Let the yachts come to you
Upload your CV and we build your crew profile from it. Captains and recruiters contact you. Free for crew.