Steward / Massage Therapist
The steward/massage therapist does a full interior job and gives guests massage treatments when they book them. You are usually found on yachts of 35m to 70m that have a massage room or a spare cabin set up for it, but no dedicated spa team. Captains like the role because it adds a premium guest service without adding a berth.
The jobWhat fills the day
Most of your time goes on ordinary interior work. That means service, housekeeping, laundry, turning down cabins and setting tables. On top of that you look after the massage room. You keep the linen, oils and table clean and ready, you book treatments around the guest itinerary and you give the massages. Expect Swedish, deep tissue and relaxation massage to be the core of it. Some yachts also want you to do reflexology, sports massage or simple facials.
With guests aboard you might give anything from one treatment a week to four a day. A busy charter in the Bahamas or around Mykonos can fill your diary, and the rest of the interior team has to cover your service shifts while you are in the treatment room. With no guests aboard you go back to full stew duties: detailing, inventory and deep cleaning. On yachts over 70m the massage work tends to pass to a spa therapist, and the dual role becomes less common.
Most people hired for this role are qualified therapists who have moved into yachting, or stews who have taken a massage diploma to stand out. Captains and chief stews want a recognised qualification such as ITEC or VTCT Level 3, plus real hands-on hours. Your service standard matters just as much. If you cannot polish silver, press linen and serve at a formal dinner, a strong massage CV will not get you the job.
From here you can go two ways. You can take the interior route: second stew, then chief stew, building your service and management skills while the massage work gives you extra tips and a reason for crew agents to put you forward. Or you can push the wellness side further: add beauty and spa treatments, move into a steward/spa therapist role, then a full spa therapist post on a 90m+ yacht, and later spa manager.
Skills captains look for
- Swedish and deep tissue massage
- Silver service and table setting
- Housekeeping and laundry care
- Treatment room hygiene
- Guest scheduling
- Discretion with principals
- Wine and cocktail basics
A day aboardCharter day, 55m motor yacht, Costa Smeralda, Sardinia
Breakfast setup on the aft deck with the second stew, then coffee orders as guests come up.
Cabin service on the guest deck: beds, bathrooms, and laundry collected for the laundry stew.
Get the massage room ready. Warm the towels, check the oils and confirm the afternoon bookings with the chief stew.
Serve lunch at anchor off Cala di Volpe, then clear and reset the dining area.
Break in the crew mess while the guests are out on the tender.
Two back-to-back 60-minute treatments: one deep tissue for the charterer, one relaxation massage for a guest.
Strip and clean the treatment room, write up client notes, then do turndown in the master suite.
Formal dinner service on the main deck, then help close down the bar.
Off watch. Tomorrow's first booking is at 10:00.
Pay by yacht sizeMonthly, before tips. Estimates. Bars share one scale.
Expect a few hundred dollars a month more than a standard stew at the same level. Charter tips of 10-20% of the charter fee are shared among the crew, and some guests also tip for treatments directly. See the Stewardess & Interior Crew salary guide for figures from live adverts.
Tickets and visas
Must have
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 Medical Certificate
- Recognised massage qualification (ITEC or VTCT Level 3, or equivalent)
Gets you hired
- Food Hygiene Level 2
- GUEST Introduction to Yacht Interior
- WSET Level 1 or 2
- Sports massage or reflexology diploma
- PDSD
Visas
- US B1/B2 for Caribbean and Florida
- Schengen right to work or visa for the Mediterranean
Where it leadsA typical career path
Steward / Massage Therapist jobsOpen now on SuperyachtRoles.com
Questions crew ask
Do I need yachting experience to get this job?
Not always. A qualified therapist with spa or hotel experience can get a first job, especially in Antibes or Palma at the start of the season. You still need STCW and ENG1, and some basic service training will help a lot.
Who provides the massage table and products?
Most yachts that advertise this role already have a table and a stock of oils and linen. Some captains will let you choose products and order them on the boat's account. Bring your own kit only if the yacht asks for it.
How many treatments will I actually give?
It depends on the owner or the charter guests. Some weeks you give none, others you give three or four a day. Ask at interview how often the room was used last season.
Will the massage work slow my progress as a stew?
Usually it helps. You still build the same service and housekeeping skills, and having a second skill makes you easier to place. If you want to become chief stew, make sure you also get experience with inventory and guest preferences.