All roles/Interior/Sole Steward / Sole Stewardess
Interior
Sole Steward / Sole Stewardess
The sole steward or stewardess runs the entire interior of a smaller yacht alone, from service and housekeeping to laundry and provisioning, so guests feel looked after without ever seeing the effort.
- Department
- Interior
- Reports to
- Yacht Captain
- Yacht size
- 24m to 40m
- Contract
- Seasonal or permanent
- Starting pay
- €3,000 per month
What the job is
You are the whole interior department. On a yacht of 24m to 40m there is no chief stew to delegate to and no junior to pass the laundry to. You serve breakfast, turn the cabins, run the washing machine, set the table for lunch, mix the drinks and close up the saloon at night. When the boat is busy with guests, every part of their experience inside the yacht comes through you.
The job also covers the paperwork and planning a larger yacht would split across several people. You keep the interior inventory, order provisions with the chef or captain, track the petty cash for your department and look after the guest preference sheet. On boats without a full time chef you may cook crew meals or simple guest lunches, and on many yachts you also help the deck crew with lines, fenders and washdowns when you are needed outside.
It suits someone with at least one or two seasons as a steward who is organised, calm and happy working alone. Charter guests on smaller yachts are close to the crew, so manners and judgement matter as much as technical skill. Done well, it is one of the best ways to prove you can run an interior, and many chief stews started here. The hours are long on charter, but the tips are shared among a small crew.
What makes a good one
- Silver service and table setting
- Housekeeping and laundry care
- Cocktail and wine service
- Time management working alone
- Discretion with guests and owners
A day in the life
- 06:30Up before the guests. Open the saloon, wipe down the aft deck table, start the coffee machine and lay breakfast with fresh fruit and pastries collected from the bakery by the deckhand.
- 08:00Serve breakfast to six guests, take egg orders to the galley and refill coffee. Note who wants what for tomorrow on the preference sheet.
- 09:30While guests swim off the stern, turn down all four cabins. Make beds, clean heads, swap towels and restock toiletries, working fast so each cabin is finished before anyone comes back.
- 11:30Load the washer and dryer with the morning's towels and linen. Set the table for lunch on the aft deck with napkins, glassware and a centrepiece.
- 13:00Serve a three course lunch alongside the chef, pour wine and clear between courses. Keep an eye on the sun and move the guests' drinks into the shade.
- 15:00Iron linen and guest clothing, then fold and store the dry laundry. Take a short break and eat a crew lunch when the guests settle on the sunpad.
- 17:00Help the deck crew with fenders as the yacht moves to an evening anchorage. Afterwards, refresh the cabins with a quick tidy and fresh towels.
- 19:30Serve sundowners and canapés, then dinner on the aft deck. Run the bar after dessert and keep the music and lighting right for the mood.
- 23:00Clear the last glasses, wipe down the bar and saloon, set the dishwasher running and prepare the table for breakfast before bed.
Pay by country
Monthly salary for a sole steward or stewardess on a 24m to 40m yacht, 2026 market. Charter yachts usually add tips of 5% to 15% of the charter fee, shared among the crew, which can add several thousand a month in a busy season.
- France and Monaco
- €3,000 – 4,000
- Spain
- €2,900 – 3,900
- Italy
- €2,900 – 3,900
- United Kingdom
- £2,600 – 3,400
- USA (Florida)
- US$3,300 – 4,300
- Caribbean
- US$3,300 – 4,300
- UAE
- AED 12,000 – 16,000
- Australia
- A$5,000 – 6,500
- New Zealand
- NZ$5,500 – 7,200
Required
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical
- PDSD
- Food Safety Level 2
Recommended
- PYA GUEST interior courses
- WSET Level 2
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
- Medical First Aid
- Ship's Cook Certificate (MCA)
Visas
- Schengen
- US B1/B2 or C1/D
- Australian MCV for Australian cruising
Where it leads
Sole Steward / Sole Stewardess jobs open now
Questions crew ask
Can I get a sole stew job as my first yacht job?
It is possible on a small private yacht, but most captains want at least one season as a steward first. Strong hospitality experience ashore, such as hotel or fine dining work, makes a first sole role more realistic.
Will I have to cook?
On many yachts under 30m you will cook crew meals and sometimes simple guest breakfasts or lunches. If the yacht has no chef, the role is often advertised as Steward / Cook, so read the advert carefully.
How hard is it to work alone through a busy charter?
It is demanding, with long days and little downtime when guests are on board. The trick is a tight routine, doing cabins while guests are off the boat, and asking the deck crew for help with service when the table is full.