Spa Manager
The spa manager runs the wellness side of a large yacht. You treat guests yourself, lead a small team of therapists, keep the spa stocked and spotless, and plan every treatment around the guest schedule. The job only exists on bigger boats, usually 80m and up, and it suits an experienced therapist who is ready to manage people as well as clients.
The jobWhat fills the day
The work is hands-on. Expect to deliver massage, facials, body treatments and often nails yourself, then spend the rest of the day on bookings, stock, laundry for the spa and the cleaning log. You write the treatment menu, choose the product house (ESPA, Natura Bissé, La Prairie and similar), and keep a record of every guest's preferences, allergies and pressure. Hygiene matters more than in a land spa because the space is small and the owner's family uses it daily.
With guests aboard, the spa runs from early morning yoga or gym sessions to late treatments after dinner. You co-ordinate with the chief stew so treatments do not clash with lunch service or tender runs ashore. With the owner off, you deep clean, service equipment, train the team, reorder product and plan the next trip. On a 75m yacht you may be one of two therapists and also do interior shifts. On 120m+ the spa has its own department and budget.
Captains and interior managers hire people with several seasons as a yacht spa therapist, or a senior land background in a five-star hotel or cruise ship spa. Recognised qualifications are expected: CIDESCO, ITEC or VTCT Level 3 in beauty and massage. Calm manners, discretion and a tidy, organised approach count as much as technique. Many owners want someone who can also teach yoga or Pilates, or run personal training.
Most spa managers start as a steward/spa therapist on a 50-70m yacht, then move to a dedicated therapist role on a larger boat. After two or three years you can step up to manage the spa. From there some move into interior management, since the people and budget skills overlap. Others go ashore to run a spa, train yacht therapists or open their own business in Antibes or Palma.
Skills captains look for
- Massage and facial therapy
- Treatment menu planning
- Team leadership and rotas
- Product stock and budgets
- Spa hygiene standards
- Guest preference records
- Yoga or fitness instruction
A day aboardCharter day, 95m motor yacht, North Malé Atoll, Maldives
Set up the sun deck for a sunrise yoga session with two guests, then strip down mats and towels.
Crew breakfast and a quick check of the guest itinerary with the chief stew.
Brief the two therapists on the day's bookings, allergies and who is covering the hammam clean.
Deliver a 90-minute deep tissue massage to the principal charter guest, then write up notes on pressure and focus areas.
Help the interior team with lunch service on the aft deck while guests are aboard.
Crew lunch and an hour off in the cabin.
Two back-to-back facials, then a stock count and product order for delivery in Malé.
Reset the treatment rooms, run towels and robes through laundry and sign off the cleaning log.
Final evening treatment for a guest after dinner, then lights out in the spa by 22:00.
Pay by yacht sizeMonthly, before tips. Estimates. Bars share one scale.
Charter tips are shared with the crew and can add several thousand dollars a season. Rotation posts on the largest yachts pay slightly less per month but give months of paid leave. See the Spa, Wellness & Childcare salary guide for figures from live adverts.
Tickets and visas
Must have
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical
- CIDESCO, ITEC or VTCT Level 3 beauty and massage
- PDSD (Proficiency in Designated Security Duties)
Gets you hired
- GUEST Interior or HoD management course
- Yoga or Pilates teaching certificate
- Brand training from the yacht's product house
- Elementary First Aid or Medical First Aid
- Food Hygiene Level 2
Visas
- Schengen visa where required
- US B1/B2 visa
Where it leadsA typical career path
Spa Manager jobsOpen now on SuperyachtRoles.com
Questions crew ask
Can I get a spa manager job straight from a land spa?
Sometimes, if you have managed a five-star hotel or cruise ship spa. Most captains still prefer someone who has done at least one season on a yacht, so taking a therapist role first is the safer route.
Will I have to do interior work as well?
On yachts under about 90m, yes, expect to help with service, laundry and cabins when the spa is quiet. On 120m+ the spa usually has its own team and you will rarely cover interior shifts.
Which qualifications do captains look for?
A recognised diploma such as CIDESCO, or ITEC or VTCT Level 3 in beauty and massage, plus STCW and an ENG1. A yoga or fitness certificate makes you much easier to place.
Where are most spa manager jobs advertised?
Most come through crew agents in Antibes, Palma and Fort Lauderdale, and through recommendations from chief stews. Hiring peaks before the Mediterranean season in spring and before the Caribbean season in autumn.