01
Deck
Life happens outside.
The deck team looks after the yacht's exterior and helps make life on the water happen, from tenders and watersports to guest excursions, beach setups and the constant care of the yacht itself.
Discover Yachting · Chapter 03
Roles on board
It takes a crew to make a yacht work.
A superyacht is a small world of its own. Behind it is a team with very different skills, responsibilities and routes into the industry.
The crew changes with the yacht. As yachts grow, departments become clearer, teams can become larger and some roles become increasingly specialised.
So who actually works onboard?
01 · The crew structure
As the yacht grows, the crew can grow with it
Smaller yacht
Smaller crew · broader roles · more combined positions
With fewer people onboard, one person may cover more than one area of responsibility.
Around 55m
More crew · clearer departments · more defined hierarchy
Deck, interior, engineering and galley are usually easier to see as distinct teams, with senior and junior roles within them.
Larger yacht
Larger teams · more specialist roles · rotation may become more common
As the operation grows, some jobs that might be combined on a smaller yacht can become dedicated positions of their own.
There is no universal crew formula. Manning varies with the yacht, its operation, flag, itinerary, private or charter use and the way the owner chooses to run it.
02 · A real example
13 crew on a 55m yacht
A 55-metre yacht with a crew of 13 might look something like this. Roles and crew numbers vary from yacht to yacht, and crew may sometimes step outside their usual role when needed.
In command
Captain
01Bridge & Deck
- Chief Officer
- Bosun
- Deckhand
- Deckhand
02Interior
- Chief Stewardess
- 2nd Stewardess
- Stewardess
- Stewardess
- Stewardess / Masseuse
03Engineering
- Chief Engineer
- 2nd Engineer
04Galley
- Head Chef
An illustrative structure. Not every 55m yacht carries 13 crew, and exact titles and numbers vary.
03 · The departments
Different teams. One yacht.
02
Interior
The experience lives in the details.
Service, cabins, laundry and housekeeping are part of it, but so are tablescapes, cocktails, flowers, guest preferences, events and creating the atmosphere onboard.
03
Galley
Everything from crew meals to exceptional guest dining.
The galley feeds the entire yacht, often balancing everyday crew food with highly personalised guest menus and high-level dining.
04
Engineering
The team that keeps the floating world working.
Power, water, engines, systems and technology. Engineering keeps the yacht operating behind the scenes.
04 · Combined roles
Sometimes one role isn't just one role
On some yachts, an existing skill becomes part of someone's onboard position.
- Stew / Masseuse
- Deckhand / Dive Instructor
- Stew / Nanny
- Stew / Cook
- Deck / Engineer
05 · Specialist roles
Some skills can become a job of their own
Larger yachts can also have dedicated specialist positions.
Purser Nurse / Medic Nanny / Governess Beauty Therapist Hairdresser Masseuse Personal Trainer Yoga / Pilates Dive Instructor Watersports Photographer / Videographer AV / IT
As the yacht grows, the crew doesn't only get bigger. The roles can become more specialised.
Your experience may translate in ways you don't expect
Yachting brings together people from hospitality, aviation, trades, childcare, wellness, engineering and many other backgrounds.
One yacht, many ways in ✦
Understanding the roles is the first step.
Finding where you may fit comes next.