It is 1600 in Porto Cervo. The principal's wife has dinner ashore at 2000 and asks — lightly, as though it costs nothing — for a gel manicure, a blow-dry and "something for my eyes." You have four hours, a guest cabin, and no idea whether the curing lamp will trip a breaker. This is the beauty half of the spa-stew dual role, and it is a real skill set, not a hobby.
Read This First
These xplor lessons are preparatory study only. They do not qualify you to perform any beauty or nail treatment on a guest. Treating a paying guest requires an accredited vocational qualification, assessed practical hours, and professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Study here, then train properly ashore.
What Guests Actually Ask For
| Request | Realistic onboard? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Manicure / pedicure | Yes | The bread and butter |
| Gel / shellac | Yes | Needs a lamp, ventilation, removal time |
| Acrylic / hard enhancements | Rarely | Dust and monomer vapour; usually refused |
| Facial | Yes | Needs a flat, warm, private space |
| Brow shape / tint | Yes | Tint requires a patch test 48 hours ahead |
| Lash extensions | Sometimes | Long, static, patch-test dependent |
| Blow-dry / evening hair | Constantly | The most-requested skill of all |
| Event makeup | Yes | Time it to departure, not to your schedule |
| Massage | Separate scope | Different qualification; do not improvise |
The Realistic Yacht Menu
Build a short, honest menu and give it to the chief stew. A menu you can deliver in a moving vessel with the products in your kit beats a spa brochure you cannot honour. Typical spine:
- Express and full manicure / pedicure
- Gel application and gel removal (charge time for removal — it is not free)
- Express and deep-cleanse facial
- Brow shape, brow and lash tint (with patch test)
- Blow-dry, evening styling, and event makeup
Where the Role Sits
You report to the chief stew, not to the guest. Bookings are agreed through the chief stew and logged on the preference sheet; guests may ask you directly, but the answer is always "let me check the schedule with Chief." That single sentence protects your service, your other duties, and your boundaries.
What Qualifies You
| Route | Recognised as |
|---|---|
| CIBTAC | International beauty diploma, widely accepted |
| VTCT | UK vocational awards in beauty and nail services |
| ITEC | International beauty and holistic qualifications |
| NVQ Level 2/3 | UK competence-based beauty therapy |
Add insurance, an up-to-date first aid certificate, and — for treating on a commercial yacht — a check with the captain that your activity is covered under the vessel's policy.
Onboard Notes
- Preparatory study only: qualify and insure before you touch a guest.
- Take bookings through the chief stew, never directly.
- Promise a small menu and deliver it perfectly.
- Charge time for gel removal; it is a treatment, not a favour.