What Does A Chief Stew Make On A Yacht?

A chief stewardess on a yacht is an entry-level position in yachting that provides a gateway to a career in hospitality at sea. They are responsible for making the luxury yachting experience unforgettable and have responsibilities such as ensuring smooth operation of the boat’s interior. The salary ranges from 24,000 to 108,000 annually, depending on vessel length, stewardess experience, and responsibilities.

A Chief Steward typically earns between 3,000 and 5,250 per month on a smaller yacht (between 80 and 140 feet). In the senior role, they can earn anywhere between 5,000 to 9,000 per month, with the most responsibilities of the interior team. The current average salary across all yacht sizes for a Chief Stew is €7,237. More than two-fifths of Chief Stews are on time time-for-time.

The Chief Stewardess makes about 5,500 to 6,000 a month and up to 75,000 a charter season. They report directly to the Captain and are responsible for the interior management of the vessel and providing superior hospitality service. They are often responsible for paying vendors, ordering floral arrangements, and sourcing special items for guests, which all need precision management.

The average salary for a Chief Stewardess working on a yacht is €3,200-€4,500, €4,000, €5,000, and €7,000.


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What does a chief stew do on a yacht?

A Chief Steward or Stewardess is the Head of the Interior Department onboard a yacht. Reporting directly to the Captain, the Chief Stew is responsible for the interior management of the vessel and for providing superior hospitality service to owners and guests onboard, which often requires anticipating their needs and desires. To achieve this, a Chief Stew manages a team of yacht Stews.

What does a Chief Stew do? | Chief Stew Job Description. As the Head of the interior, a Chief Stew is not only responsible for the maintenance of the interior and the whole team that comes with it, but they are also the first point of contact for the guests onboard. Subsequently, a Chief Stew is responsible for making their luxury yachting experience unforgettable.

Ensuring the everyday smooth operation of the boat’s interior department.

Yacht stewardess requirements
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How much does a chief stew make on a luxury yacht?

How much the third, second and chief stews make. Being a stew on the ship means wearing many hats, and the higher you rank the more responsibility you have. Second and third stews make approximately $5,000 a month, and up to $50,000 per charter season if they move from boat to boat. The chief stew makes about $5,500 to $6,000 a month and up to $75,000 a charter season.

Related: ‘Below Deck’ season 9 trailer teases the new captain, an old rivalry and budding romances.

The Below Deck chefs make a pretty penny. One of the most important crew members is the unsung hero in the kitchen — the chef. Chefs on board make around $7,000 to $10,000 a month, depending on their culinary training and professional experience. Chefs who work all throughout the charter season can make up to $95,000.

Related: The wildest ‘Below Deck’ chefs over the years.

Yacht stewardess salary
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How long does it take to become a chief stew on a yacht?

About the Chief Steward/ess. The chief stewardess onboard a yacht is extremely skilled in five-star hospitality, various service styles and interior maintenance, in addition to possessing extensive wine knowledge. This individual is responsible for guest satisfaction onboard and must have the ability to anticipate owner/guest needs and exceed their expectations. Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential to success in this position, as well as team management and fiscal administration. This role typically requires at least three years of experience in the superyacht industry.

  • Job Responsibilities. Setting stewardess schedules for guest service and cleaning
  • Interior cleaning and maintenance
  • Interior inventory
  • Interior accounting
  • Liaison with guest and service meals and bartending
  • Liaison with galley for meal services
  • Orchestrating guest activities
  • Boat stowage for sea
  • Assisting with lines and fenders on deck
  • Required Skills. Ability to delegate
  • Good communications, organization and diplomacy
  • Knowledge of restaurants and activities in cruising areas
  • Knowledge of flower and table decorations
  • Attention to detail
  • Financial management
How much do yacht stewardess make on Below Deck
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Who gets paid the most on Below Deck?

The head of the boat, Captain Kerry Titheradge, is, of course, the highest earner with the most responsibility. To captain a vessel of that size, Captain Kerry would be looking to be compensated at $228,000 annually.

In July 2013, Bravo fans’ horizons were expanded when the network introduced its nautical series, Below Deck. Until then, we had no idea that you could make a living out of being a yachtie, which took you to exotic locations and gave you some great cash tips. At its start, it consisted of wide-eyed young adults who wanted a bit of escapism from their everyday lives. Many were running away from breakups or family situations or couldn’t stay any longer in their small town. Below Deck stood out because it brought not only female viewership but male viewership as well.

Bravo camera’s only job was to follow the crew in and out of the small, windy corridors. Most of the time, there was plenty of drama to go around, and some even had to walk the plank (i.e., be sent packing.) Undoubtedly, there were more than one messy boatmances that ended in tears. But the end of charter feeling always bailed the stars out as they walked away a little wiser and richer for their troubles.

It isn’t surprising that Below Deck stars make way less than their other Bravo counterparts. But this could be because they also have a salary from the boat. But, oddly, they are expected to commit to filming a full series and complete all their tasks on board. Bravo has maximized the series’ success and even created multiple spinoffs, including Below Deck Mediterranean in 2015, Below Deck Sailing Yacht in 2020, and Below Deck Down Under in 2022.

Below Deck salary without tips
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Who gets paid most on a yacht?

The head of the boat, Captain Kerry Titheradge, is, of course, the highest earner with the most responsibility. To captain a vessel of that size, Captain Kerry would be looking to be compensated at $228,000 annually.

In July 2013, Bravo fans’ horizons were expanded when the network introduced its nautical series, Below Deck. Until then, we had no idea that you could make a living out of being a yachtie, which took you to exotic locations and gave you some great cash tips. At its start, it consisted of wide-eyed young adults who wanted a bit of escapism from their everyday lives. Many were running away from breakups or family situations or couldn’t stay any longer in their small town. Below Deck stood out because it brought not only female viewership but male viewership as well.

Bravo camera’s only job was to follow the crew in and out of the small, windy corridors. Most of the time, there was plenty of drama to go around, and some even had to walk the plank (i.e., be sent packing.) Undoubtedly, there were more than one messy boatmances that ended in tears. But the end of charter feeling always bailed the stars out as they walked away a little wiser and richer for their troubles.

It isn’t surprising that Below Deck stars make way less than their other Bravo counterparts. But this could be because they also have a salary from the boat. But, oddly, they are expected to commit to filming a full series and complete all their tasks on board. Bravo has maximized the series’ success and even created multiple spinoffs, including Below Deck Mediterranean in 2015, Below Deck Sailing Yacht in 2020, and Below Deck Down Under in 2022.

Yacht Stewardess salary Europe
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Do yachties get paid a salary plus tips?

Yes, yacht crew are paid a monthly salary. However they can expect to receive tips in addition to their basic take home in certain circumstances. The average yacht salary for a deckhand or a junior stewardess, for instance, generally ranges between £2000 to £2700 per month.

Receiving tips in any line of work is a very motivating and rewarding aspect of any job.

In the case of yacht crew, tips can greatly add to what is already a very generous basic salary.

But how much do yachties typically receive as tips from guests aboard superyachts?

How much does a yacht captain make
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Do the Below Deck crew get paid by Bravo?

Now, when it comes to the crew’s Bravo paycheck, Business Insider has reported that they receive a small fee for their participation. Earlier, Below Deck cast members argued that they were severely underpaid. The fee is said to be around $5,000 to $6,000 a month.

In July 2013, Bravo fans’ horizons were expanded when the network introduced its nautical series, Below Deck. Until then, we had no idea that you could make a living out of being a yachtie, which took you to exotic locations and gave you some great cash tips. At its start, it consisted of wide-eyed young adults who wanted a bit of escapism from their everyday lives. Many were running away from breakups or family situations or couldn’t stay any longer in their small town. Below Deck stood out because it brought not only female viewership but male viewership as well.

Bravo camera’s only job was to follow the crew in and out of the small, windy corridors. Most of the time, there was plenty of drama to go around, and some even had to walk the plank (i.e., be sent packing.) Undoubtedly, there were more than one messy boatmances that ended in tears. But the end of charter feeling always bailed the stars out as they walked away a little wiser and richer for their troubles.

It isn’t surprising that Below Deck stars make way less than their other Bravo counterparts. But this could be because they also have a salary from the boat. But, oddly, they are expected to commit to filming a full series and complete all their tasks on board. Bravo has maximized the series’ success and even created multiple spinoffs, including Below Deck Mediterranean in 2015, Below Deck Sailing Yacht in 2020, and Below Deck Down Under in 2022.

What does Captain Sandy get paid?

Crew Finder International predicts that a captain with Captain Lee’s expertise could make around $150-$210,000 a year. Not too shabby! Captain Sandy also would be in the same earning bracket. If any of the captains make appearances or publish books, as the Colorado native has, that adds to their income.

How much does a Deckhand make on a yacht
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Do the guests on Below Deck pay?

1. Guests pay for the charter. The charter guests you see on the show are genuine charter guests. They pay their own money to secure a space within the six weeks of filming time each season.

It can cost tens of thousands of dollars to charter any of the superyachts featured in the series. The rate is discounted (up to 50%) compared to the standard price of chartering these yachts outside of Below Deck filming.

Below Deck executive producer Courtland Cox previously told Bravo, the production company behind the show, that the charter guests are usually seasoned charterers rather than individuals looking to appear on TV. This means the show isn’t staged or rigged by producers in advance of filming.

2. Guests pay tips. Similar to the charter fee, guests also fund the tip that gets handed to the crew at the end of each charter. It’s customary for this to be around 15-20% of the full amount for a week-long charter on the yacht in question (not the discounted rate), though some guests choose to pay less.

Yacht chef salary
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Is a chief stew higher than a chef?

Kevin Dobson and Ashton Pienaar also agreed in the After Show that the chef is neither below nor above the chief stew on a yacht. “Put your egos aside. It’s not about you, Kate. It’s not about you, Kevin. It’s about the guests,” Ashton said. “Everybody needs to get their s t together and work together as a team for the better of the charter.”

Kate, Kevin, and the rest of the Below Deck crew break down more of their drama in the After Show, including why the chef said he “f king snapped” over the galley fridge, which you can check out, above.

Keep watching Below Deck Mondays at 9/8c on Bravo, as well as through the NBC app. See what’s coming up, below.

Yacht stewardess job description
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Do the Below Deck crew get paid?

The hit Bravo series, which debuted in 2013 and has spanned several spinoffs, follows the lives of crew members who work and live on super yachts during charter season. The cast earns money working on the boat, which is supplemented by tips from guests and their involvement in the reality series.

In May 2022, Eddie Lucas sparked a conversation about paychecks when he revealed that he won’t be coming back for season 10 of Below Deck after appearing in six seasons.

“I was not invited back to do another season,” the first officer told the New York Post in May 2022. “I actually didn’t even get a phone call from them saying they hired someone else — which kind of goes to show what the production entails. Everyone on Below Deck is expendable. …While we do get paid better than a normal yachtie, of course, we are still not getting paid what people like the Housewives are making, which is a little frustrating, because they’re not really working — they’re just going out to dinner and fighting,” he added at the time.


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Debbie Green

I am a school teacher who was bitten by the travel bug many decades ago. My husband Billy has come along for the ride and now shares my dream to travel the world with our three children.The kids Pollyanna, 13, Cooper, 12 and Tommy 9 are in love with plane trips (thank goodness) and discovering new places, experiences and of course Disneyland.

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