Since as long as people have used the water for transportation there has been the need to rid vessels of all the waste that human bodies emit on a daily basis. In the early days a simple wooden platform over the side of the ship s...
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Scuba diving is one of the most rewarding activities you can do during a luxury yacht charter but it also presents unique dangers, and divers rely heavily on their training and equipment to keep them safe. Whether a novice or a se...
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As Christmas is fast approaching, this is one of the busiest times of the year for many yachts so we've put together some of our most popular Christmas ideas and suggestions from our Facebook group, Yacht Stewardess Tips.
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As regulations in the yachting industry increase, no department is immune. Under MLC 2006, as of 7 August 2014, it is a requirement for all chefs/ cooks onboard charter yachts with 10 or more crew to have an MCA Ships Cook Certifi...
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Yachts engineers, the technical knowledge and qualifications required, have come a long way since the turn of the century. Back in the day, with little or no regulations, the term engineer was used loosely in the yachting communit...
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Over the years we’ve seen a shift from selling superyachts to selling the ultimate experience which, by definition, puts the spotlight on luxury hospitality. However, according to Peter Vogel of Luxury Hospitality Management, the ...
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If you're a steward/ess choosing a selection of fine wines for your yacht it helps to understand the peculiar wine tasting terms on the label. Many are apt descriptions, but it's not always easy to imagine the taste of a wine on y...
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Since the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore certificate of competency (CoC) is a command certificate for small craft, the RYA insists that at least half the qualifying 2,500 nautical miles have been acquired on a small vessel under 24m and...
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The Big Green Egg stands alone as the single most versatile barbecue or outdoor cooker on the market, with more capabilities than all other conventional cookers combined. From appetizers to main courses and desserts, the Big Green...
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The annual refit or yard period of a yacht is a time that many yacht captains and engineers dread. With endless lists of requirements for cost approval and ever more mandatory requirements for commercial registrations, is it more ...
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Many years ago a female guest walked on board and announced that she was going to be seasick the entire trip and that her children were forcing her to come along on this charter. I had the unfortunate experience an hour or so lat...
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For several years the yachting industry has suffered a shortage of qualified engineers. Another problem has been the lack of transferability of engineering qualifications across different sectors of the marine industry. Marine Inf...
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When I first went to sea (don't ask when), we used things like Loran C and sextants, women were on the odd ship here and there, but the British fleet didn't start to accept them for many years to come. Being transgender, I have se...
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There seems to be some evidence that initial 2016 pay rates offered in commercial yachting are somewhat below the standard rates for the wider shipping industry. I would argue that the reasons behind this may potentially harm the ...
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Retired mariner, Horatio Hardy, is on a mission to find his itinerant nieces whose parents have been kidnapped off north-east Africa. The story continues as H is employed as Mate of M/Y Caviare, under the command of Captain ‘Skip...
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Q: Katie, Stewardess, 24: “I saved up for so long to come to Antibes and get a stewardess position, but now I have one I’m not enjoying it at all! It feels bad even admitting it - but I can’t bear the lack of freedom onboard and I...
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The Professional Yachting Association (PYA) recently signed a reciprocal agreement with WORLDCHEFS whereby each will recognise the other as an Associate Member of their respective organisations. PYA and WORLDCHEFS have agreed a re...
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Sea Bass numbers are critical at the moment so the fishing quota for this year has been slashed in half and scientists are arguing that this should be reduced to a quarter. We are actively encouraging everyone to buy Sea Bass only...
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Luxury yachting is still an industry in which men tend to hold deck and engineering roles while women more usually work in the interior department as stewardesses. However, a ground shift for gender equality in yachting is gatheri...
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Luxury yachting has long been an industry in which men have traditionally held deck and engineering roles while women have automatically filled stewardess and interior positions. However, thanks to passionate women – and men – who...
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For this column, I'm stepping away from the educational side of Facebook group, Yacht Stewardess Tips, and I'm taking a light-hearted look at our ‘more serious’ personality (dis)orders and how these affect us each and every day, e...
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The summer charter season is fast approaching and now is the time to think about stocking your yacht's wine cellar. Here are some suggestions for a basic core wine list to have on board to ensure you're ready for any occasion.
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In the beginning, there was light, then earth, then water. Approximately 97 percent of the earth’s water is salt water, 3 percent is fresh water and less than 1 percent of that is fit for human consumption. It's time we got smart ...
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As yacht crew, sometimes we forget just how fortunate we are. The positions we are in are well paid and we have few, or no, responsibilities outside of the yacht. We make a lot of money which we sometimes spend unwisely, and when ...
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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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It is well known that charcuterie is a branch of cuisine devoted to prepared meat products, such as bacon, ham, sausage, salami, terrines, galantines, ballotines, pâtés, and confit, primarily from pork, but it also can be made fro...
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We all like a spot of plonk every now and again but, have you ever thought about having a decent collection of wine for your home once you leave the yachting industry? Or have you ever thought about wine as a long-term investment?...
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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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As a crew member in the yachting industry I´m sure that you have had your fair share of faulty wines! With (in some cases) inappropriate storage conditions on yachts resulting in dry, hot and moving environment, wines tend to matu...
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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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