The rate of expansion in our industry in the last twenty years, combined with natural attrition, has resulted in a shortage of experienced interior crew. Training opportunities have certainly improved, and relevant experience alwa...
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When it comes to interior, crew and leadership skills training, there aren’t many individuals with more passion or zest for the business than Peter Vogel. A veteran who managed Paul Allen’s superyacht stable for nine years, Peter ...
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Are you a stew or stewardess and thinking of completing a course during the winter? Why not learn all about wine and spirits by completing WSET Wine & Spirits qualification. Riviera Wine are offering these internationally recognis...
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I always tell my students at the Steward/ess course that Grandma had the right idea – she used basic ingredients in the house, such as glycerine, soap made from animal fat (see definition Boerseep) baking soda, vinegar, sunshine, ...
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A Purser’s training for bookkeeping is challenging because many different software platforms are used on board yachts. Specific financial reporting requirements are determined by whoever manages the yacht and there is enormous var...
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Carrying on from Great Theme Nights - Part Two, here are some ideas for impromptu theme nights as well as great ideas for turn-downs and guest gifts.
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Carrying on from Great Theme Nights - Part One, here are some additional tried and tested, popular themes that will ensure owners and charter guests enjoy a memorable time on board. As we need to keep the children happy too, let's...
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Some Steward/esses possess a natural flair and creativity and can dream up a theme evening in a matter of minutes. A frequently asked question on my Facebook group, ‘Yacht Stewardess Tips’, is regarding classy theme ideas, especi...
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We are excited to launch the “Penum Yacht Interior Mentor Program”.The goal of this informal program, is to connect established Yacht Interior Managers/Chief Stews with Second Steward/esses and other aspiring Yacht Steward/esses.
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I still remember the first time I booked an artist. We needed a DJ for an event in Turkey and I started Googling and asked around. Luckily one of my friends knew some really good DJ’s and put me in touch with them.
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This month, OnboardOnline was invited to attend a lunch for the Crew Academy PYA accredited GUEST Level 2 Interior Training course. Rather than outdated and unrealistic theory training, The Crew Academy uses a villa with a realist...
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Keeping within the spirit of natural cleaning products that I have been discussing over the past few columns, it would be almost irresponsible of me not to dedicate an entire column to the most magic natural cleaner of all – good ...
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What will it take for yachting to see that interior training is commercially viable? If the reaction from the first PYA GUEST Awareness Workshop held earlier this week is anything to go by, the industry is slowly but surely waking...
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As promised in our previous article in September, this month, we are focusing on undoing some of those laundry horrors that many of you have had to deal with.
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Like many others, I thought that interior training courses were unnecessary money-spinners, after all, we all managed fine without these courses before, didn’t we? Well I’m not sure that most of us did, not at the beginning of our...
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When I was in yachting – back in the day – my laptop weighed more than my aeroplane luggage allowance, a cell phone was something you kept in your cabin all season and needed dusting off at the end of the summer, we still used to ...
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We've got four cocktails that cover all the taste bases. If you learn to make them well, you'll pleasantly surprise your guests every time. (And the crew probably won't mind being your guinea pigs.)
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This year at Monaco Yacht Show the PYA held their first ever table setting competition. OnboardOnline were invited to cover the event, following the judges on their journey through various interpretations of the theme ‘Monaco Glam...
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Steward/esses work in an environment where a 'disaster' is something that people on land might discount as merely a little accident, but for yacht crew, could spell the end of their job.
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I stood on the dock in the baking summer heat, with my bags next to me and nowhere to go. I'd never jumped ship before that day, and had never thought I would.
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Most of us have encountered it. Sitting in a guest cabin, watching the chief stew pulling out the uniform from under the bed, only to find that the size you requested doesn't fit.
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Bianca Meyjes, OnboardOnline's newest contributor and author of popular yachting blog The Swedish African, tells us about the challenges of having guinea pigs on board and the silliest thing she's ever heard on a boat.
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Healthier products in cleaning caddies mean healthier stews and a healthier ocean, and it's naive to think that strong, chemically laden cleaning products will do a better job.
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Wouldn't it be great if it didn't cost a fortune to create professional stowage. Doesn't everyone want a beautiful walk in china store to house the yacht's collection of plates, flatware, glassware and accessories?
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Stews often fear or dislike cleaning suede. In her third Q-Tips and Toothpicks column, SYSA's Isobel Odendaal gives some advice about the care and cleaning of this difficult fabric.
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I thought I knew a lot about yachting when I made the decision to join the hordes in Antibes. I suspected dockwalking was a thing to be feared and that I was immune to seasickness.
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Most stews have had to look after those dreaded Phalaenopsis orchids. This month’s column is dedicated to tips for keeping them alive for longer than the guests’ arrival day.
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To kick off the new '10 Things' series from OnboardOnline, Lauren Williams tells us 10 things she didn't know before joining yachting, starting with the wonder that is toilet paper origami.
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Steward/esses, as a group, have a huge amount of knowledge when it comes to solving problems on board, but are often unable to take advantage of each other’s experience.
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If someone had asked my teenage self where I expected to be living in my 30’s, it’s unlikely I would have said I was aiming for a bunk-bed situation.
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