Planes vs Yachts?

[Squeegee Longtail]

Have any cabin crew considered steward/essing on superyachts? Basically the same job, (maybe to a higher standard service), higher pay, better lifestyle.
Think about it on the way to the airport on a dark, rainy morning!!

Pros & cons of each?

[mirabeau]

We had a flight attendant on our private aircraft who previously worked on the owner's large boat.
She said the pay was less than the flying job and she worked all hours of the day and night. She had to share a small cabin and when she wasn't serving the pasengers she was cleaning the boat with very little time off.
She also said the crew were treated pretty badly by the Greek captain, and I've heard this is not unusual. All in all she was more than happy to be part of the aircraft crew.
If you are flying for an airline and want a change you might want to give corporate VIP flying a try, a lot more demanding but maybe more interesting than dishing out plastic trays ! Good luck.

Mirabeau

[blackred1443]

thing about yachts is they dont have those devilishly handsome pilots!:p

[VS-LHRCSA]

Are stewards on yachts trained in emergency first aid, fire fighting, conflict resolution, restraint techniques etc or is it just serving food and drink. I'm really struggling to see how they are basically the same job.

It wouldn't be for me anyway - there's no staff travel!

[yotcru]

They do have to train in safety, personal safety and fire fighting. That is the bare minimum, and there are many other skills that you need to work on a yacht. Silver service, more housekeeping, and knowledge of matching wine and food are all required.
The case of the girl who was mentioned to be working all hours and not getting paid is interesting - it depends on your yacht and the bigger yachts and more senior crew are very handsomely paid, it is tax free.
If you are willing to stick to it and put in some solid training, you can get to the Chief Stew position on a superyacht (a yacht over 30m) and be earning well. The holiday isn't great and you do have to share private space often, but if you want an exciting life of travel and love the service industry it is certainly a good option. I know loads of people who have absolutely loved life on board yachts - it is more of a lifestyle in that sense than working on planes - because you live on the yacht, whereas flight attendants don't live on the plane (I am sure you will argue it sometimes feels like you do!)

If you are interested in learning more about working on superyachts check out www.superyachtjobs.com or www.yotcru.com

[yachtgirl]

Hi, I'm a yacht stewardess. I'll be helping out on the owner's private jet soon and if it all goes well I might consider a permanent move.

With regard to yachting I agree with yotcru-

money can be phenomenal. Get on a big motor yacht (40m+) that charters heavily. Lots of work but great (tax free) tips, no expenses so all money can be saved/spent on shoes. Is it a similar setup on planes?

crew quarters are cramped but i soon got used to it. i also get seasick but it hasn't been a problem so far.

There is a reported shortage of yacht crew that is supposedly pushing up wages. Have a look at http://www.dovaston.com/SalaryDetails.aspx to get an idea of basic wages (not including tips).

I found it very easy to get into- and that was without service experience- so you should be sorted. All you need is your STCW95 tickets (a few qualifications you can obtain in a week.) Anyway, go to the dovaston website and you'll find the info there.

Give it a go. It's the best thing I ever did. Good luck!

[AirborneSoon]

Well the killer for me is that it's not a plane. It doesn't taxi down a runway or go through takeoff and landing. I watched the superyachts parked in my local harbour for 3 months and in that time they didn't go anywhere. Crew were to be seen scrubbing decks and revarnishing brightwork the entire time and it looked exceedingly boring to me. Not to mention it was summer in a tropical port and was like an oven with overpowering humidity.

I'm certain it would be a lifestyle for some, just no comparison to FA for me. I like the fact I'm not living on a plane and also that I don't have to live 24/7 with my coworkers.

[a n n e]

I've worked on larger yachts (50m+) for the last 3 years as junior stew/2nd stew and eventually chief stewardess. Yes, the money is fantastic and the tips can be amazing, BUT living in a bunk bed in a 8'x6' cabin with someone who snores can be a living hell! You do get to travel all over the world, but be prepared that you might only see these places through the laundry porthole as you slave for 16 hours a day over a hot iron!
I've had enough now and have just started applying for CC jobs (got my first interview on Wednesday and am totally bricking it!!), do you think it will be looked upon favourably that I have been working on yachts??
We do do a lot of fire fighting training, first aid and lifeboat training, and if you are on a well run boat, you have to do regular drills... I'm hoping this makes my training for CC (if I get the job!) much easier:O

[Jorga]

I am a yacht stewardess on a 70m yacht and am looking into switching to private jets.

Can anyone give me any information on the rota, pay and gaining employment on private planes.

Yes it's true working on a yacht can be hard long soul destroying work at times but if you're on the right yacht its pretty good. I work on a private and charter yacht and are currently chartering straight for 3mths (no day off). The money is FANTASTIC. Biggest tip we've had so far is 9,000 euros each crew member (18 in total) for 1 mths work (plus we get our monthly salary on top of this). We travel between the US, Caribbean and Med.

Downside is that you are living and working in the same place.

One of our charter guests are purchasing a private airbus and they have offered a position to me on their jet for 15 days on, 15 days off. Is this the normal roster? Any guide of pay scale?

Any info you could give me would be hugely appreciated.

Cheers
Jorga

[dazdaz]

Jorga

"One of our charter guests are purchasing a private airbus and they have offered a position to me on their jet for 15 days on, 15 days off. Is this the normal roster? Any guide of pay scale?"

Jorga; Walk away from the position, did this 'guest' tell you this after a few 'drinkies'? God gave us all a brain, if it seems too good to be true, walk away.

Dazdaz

[chornedsnorkack]

I watched the superyachts parked in my local harbour for 3 months and in that time they didn't go anywhere. Crew were to be seen scrubbing decks and revarnishing brightwork the entire time and it looked exceedingly boring to me. Not to mention it was summer in a tropical port and was like an oven with overpowering humidity.

I'm certain it would be a lifestyle for some, just no comparison to FA for me. I like the fact I'm not living on a plane and also that I don't have to live 24/7 with my coworkers.

But airplanes might also be sitting in remote and unpleasant airports, whether on tarmac or in a hangar, month after month. What are the cabin crew then doing - are they sharing hotel rooms 24/7 with coworkers? Do they have any duties on the plane?

[Agaricus bisporus]

but if you're on the right yacht

says it all, but if you're not than things ain't so cosy. Probably 90% of yachts are in the "not" category.

Pay, far from being fantastic, is often rather poor, given you're on duty 24/7 .

Living conditions are almost always extremely cramped, sometimes dreadful. 7ft X 4 ft cabin for two is pretty standard.

Discipline is often very strict. With owner/charterer on board you are not usually allowed on deck when not on duty, and thre is no crew-room or lounge, just your 7x4 cabin and the galley where the chef really doesn't want you.

Formal training of any sort varies, from what I've heard, from rare to non-existant. Expect to be 100% dogsbody 24 hrs a day.

Many/most big yachts sit for weeks/months not moving anywhere, no tips, no variety, just total boredom and endless painting and varnishing and making work to keep you busy, if you're lucky enough not to be laid off.

Yachts tend to change hands frequently, and you will always be the last to know. At best you may go with it. At worst told to get off at 2hrs notice in Cairo without your pay.

Swanning between Caribbean and Med does happen, but rarely as most motor yachts (sailing yachts are much more capable) cannot manage long passages, and very very few have transatlantic range, let alone sea-keeping ability.

No, not a bed of roses usually, but you might just get lucky.

[winkle]

Hi folks,
From the front end - i was in aviation, mil for 20+ civ for 4, hated the last 2 with a charter co. loved netjets but was still hard work. now gone out on my own in the maritime world - yes its hard work but fantastic fun. its not all polishing the boat etc as there are loads of different types of jobs out there. i have a great cook/crew this year and will be looking for someone else next. I tried asking around for CC cos i know they would fit in just right and it is an incredible read accross from aviation to marine. anyway if you are interested in what type of marine world i am in have a look at my web site
www.guideliner.co.uk (http://www.guideliner.co.uk)
enjoy
td
:ok:

[AirborneSoon]

It's unlikely for an airplane to be parked in a remote port for extended periods. They get repaired and brought home where it doesn't cost the company that owns them a fortune to maintain. In which case you are at home in your own bed surrounded by your family. A much nicer prospect.

When you are out of home port you are in your own hotel room. Not sharing a small box with 3 other crew. And you can walk around, use the spare time as you wish, just need to be ready to report for duty when the plane is due to depart.

[chornedsnorkack]

How do conditions as stewards in air and on sea compare to the lifestyle of servants in houses on land?