How to become a Laundry Steward / Stewardess
You can start as a Laundry 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.
Laundry Steward / Stewardess
Year 0-1. Pay from about US$3,500 a month. Runs the laundry on larger superyachts.
Housekeeping Steward / Stewardess
Year 1-2. Pay from about US$3,500 a month. Housekeeping stews keep guest cabins, bathrooms and public areas on larger superyachts spotless, handling turndowns, linen and fine surface care.
Second Steward / Second Stewardess
Year 2-4. 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.
Head of Housekeeping
Year 3-5. Pay from about US$5,000 a month. Runs cabins, laundry and housekeeping standards on large superyachts, leading a team of housekeeping and laundry stews under the chief stew.
Before you applyWhat a Laundry Steward / Stewardess needs, from the Laundry Steward / Stewardess guide
Must have
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 Medical Certificate
Gets you hired
- PDSD
- GUEST Introduction to Yacht Interiors
- Fabric care or laundry course
- Food Hygiene Level 2
Visas
- Schengen visa (non-EU crew)
- US B1/B2
What counts instead of yacht experienceOur advice
Captains hire a Laundry Steward / Stewardess for fabric and care-label knowledge, stain removal and hand pressing and steaming. 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 care-label knowledge
- Stain removal
- Hand pressing and steaming
- Commercial machine operation
- Linen inventory control
- Folding and presentation
- Stamina on long days
Your first stepsIn the order we suggest
Get the tickets a Laundry Steward / Stewardess must hold
You need STCW Basic Safety Training and ENG1 Medical Certificate before a yacht can put you to work as a Laundry Steward / Stewardess.
STCW and ENG1: what they are and what they cost →Write a first Laundry 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 Laundry 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. 2 Laundry Steward / Stewardess jobs are open on SuperyachtRoles.com now.
See open Laundry Steward / Stewardess jobs →Step up to Housekeeping Steward / Stewardess
The usual path puts Housekeeping Steward / Stewardess at year 1 to 2. Pay starts from about US$3,500 a month.
How to become a Housekeeping Steward / Stewardess →
Laundry Steward / Stewardess jobsOpen now on SuperyachtRoles.com. Some ask for experience, so read each advert.
QuestionsMore in the green crew guide
Can I become a Laundry Steward / Stewardess with no experience?
Yes. Laundry 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 Laundry 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 Housekeeping Steward / Stewardess at year 1 to 2.
What does a Laundry Steward / Stewardess earn at the start?
From about US$3,500 a month, by our Laundry Steward / Stewardess guide. Charter tips are usually 10-15% of the charter fee, split among the crew. On a busy yacht they can add one to two months' salary per season. Rotation is rare below 90m, so leave is usually annual.
Let the yachts come to you
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