Galley
Yacht Cook
A yacht cook runs the galley on a smaller yacht, feeding guests and crew three meals a day from a compact kitchen. Good food keeps owners coming back and keeps a small crew happy.
- Department
- Galley
- Reports to
- Yacht Captain
- Yacht size
- 24m to 50m
- Contract
- Seasonal or permanent
- Starting pay
- €3,000 per month
What the job is
A yacht cook is the only person in the galley on most yachts between 24m and 50m. You plan menus, provision, cook and clean down for the owner, their guests and a crew of four to ten. The food is usually good home style cooking done well: fresh salads, grilled fish, pasta, simple desserts and proper crew meals. You are not expected to plate tasting menus, but you are expected to be consistent every day.
Provisioning is half the job. You work out what you can buy in the next port, what you need to carry for a crossing and how to fit it into one fridge, one freezer and a dry store under the crew mess seating. You keep receipts in order for the captain, track allergies and preferences, and adapt when guests change plans at short notice. Waste, hygiene and stock rotation all sit with you.
On smaller boats the cook often helps outside the galley. You might lay the table, wash up for the stewardess, handle lines when coming alongside or stand an anchor watch. Many yacht cooks start in restaurants or private homes and use the role to learn yacht life before stepping up to sole chef on a bigger, busier charter yacht with higher guest expectations and a larger budget.
What makes a good one
- Reliable home style and Mediterranean cooking
- Menu planning for allergies and diets
- Provisioning on a tight budget
- Clean, organised small galley work
- Calm under last minute changes
A day in the life
- 06:30Start the coffee machine, bake bread from dough proved overnight and put out crew breakfast.
- 07:30Set up the guest breakfast buffet on the aft deck with fruit, yoghurt and pastries, then cook eggs to order.
- 09:30Clean down, check the preference sheet and confirm lunch numbers with the stewardess. Write a short shopping list for the tender run.
- 10:30Go ashore with the deckhand to the market in Pollença for fish, vegetables and herbs. Pay and file the receipts for the captain.
- 12:00Prep and serve a light lunch at anchor: grilled sea bass, salads and a gluten free option for one guest.
- 14:00Feed the crew, then break down, scrub the galley and restock the fridges.
- 16:00Short break in the crew cabin, then start prep for dinner and make the dessert so it can set.
- 19:00Serve canapés with sundowners, then a three course dinner on the sundeck while the yacht swings at anchor.
- 22:00Final clean down, check temperatures in the fridges and freezer, and set tomorrow's bread to prove.
Pay by country
Monthly salary for a yacht cook on a 24m to 50m yacht, before charter tips. On charter yachts tips commonly add 10 to 15 percent of the charter fee shared among crew. Food and accommodation are included.
- France and Monaco
- €3,000 – 4,200
- Spain
- €2,900 – 4,000
- Italy
- €2,900 – 4,000
- United Kingdom
- £2,600 – 3,600
- USA (Florida)
- US$3,300 – 4,600
- Caribbean
- US$3,300 – 4,600
- UAE
- AED 12,000 – 16,500
- Australia
- A$5,000 – 7,000
- New Zealand
- NZ$5,500 – 7,500
Required
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical
- Food Safety Level 2
Recommended
- Ship's Cook Certificate (MCA)
- PDSD (Proficiency in Designated Security Duties)
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
- Professional culinary diploma
- PYA GUEST interior courses
Visas
- Schengen visa
- US B1/B2 or C1/D
- Australian MCV
Where it leads
Yacht Cook jobs open now
Questions crew ask
Do I need professional chef training to work as a yacht cook?
Not always. Captains on smaller yachts hire good home cooks with a strong portfolio and references, though a culinary diploma or restaurant experience makes you far easier to place.
Is the MCA Ship's Cook Certificate required?
It is required by MLC rules on yachts carrying 10 or more crew. On smaller yachts it is optional but recommended, as it opens up larger boats and shows you take hygiene and safety seriously.
What is the difference between a yacht cook and a sole chef?
A yacht cook usually works on smaller boats with simpler menus and often helps on deck or in the interior. A sole chef runs the galley on a larger charter yacht where guests expect restaurant standard food and the budget and pay are higher.