You arrive at the passerelle with a suitcase that is far too big, wearing the wrong shoes, and you do not know whether to shake the captain's hand or wait. Somebody points you at a bunk. Within an hour you will have broken two unwritten rules you did not know existed. Everybody does. What matters is how fast you learn them.
Joining Day
- Shoes off at the passerelle unless told otherwise. Yacht interiors do not meet outdoor soles.
- Bring less than you think. Your stowage is one drawer and part of a hanging rail. Soft bag, not a hard case — there is nowhere to put a hard case.
- Hand over your documents immediately: passport, certificates, discharge book, bank details, next of kin.
- Learn the boat before you learn the job. Muster station, life jacket, escape routes, fire panel, where the guests are and are not.
The Chain of Command
| Level | Who | Your relationship |
|---|---|---|
| Captain | Master of the vessel, final authority | Respectful, brief, do not bypass anyone to reach them |
| Chief Stew / Head of Interior | Runs the interior | Your boss. Your teacher. Your reference |
| 2nd Stew | Senior interior crew | Your day-to-day supervisor |
| You (Junior Stew) | Bottom of the interior | Ask, listen, do |
Go through your line, not around it. Taking a problem straight to the captain because you did not like your chief stew's answer is one of the fastest ways to be disliked onboard.
The Crew Mess and the Unwritten Rules
The crew mess is the only communal space you have. It has rules nobody will write down for you:
- Clean up after yourself instantly. Your mug, your plate, your crumbs, every time.
- The senior crew's seats are the senior crew's seats. Watch first, sit later.
- Do not complain in the mess in your first weeks. You have not earned it, and it is exhausting to be around.
- Do not gossip. The yacht is small, the season is long, and everything you say travels.
- Volunteer. If you finish first, help someone else. Standing around is noticed instantly.
- Sleep is sacred. People are on different watches. Be silent in the corridors.
- Never enter guest areas in your off time, and never take the shortcut through them.
The First Week Attitude
Be early, be quiet, take notes, say yes, and do the jobs nobody wants without being asked twice. Nobody expects a green stew to be good yet. They expect you to be willing, clean, honest and easy to live with.
Onboard Notes
- Learn every crew member's name and role in the first 48 hours. It matters more than you think.
- If you break something, report it immediately. Hiding damage is a firing offence; breaking a glass is not.
- Homesickness on day three is normal and it is not a sign you made the wrong decision. Give it a full month before you judge.