Just like deckhands, stewards and stewardesses are an important part of a yacht’s crew. From managing the interiors to providing highly professional hospitality services, stewardesses play a very important part in a yacht’s functionality. If you are a people person, have a keen eye for detail, and have a tenacious, enduring personality, then becoming a stewardess might be just right for you. Let’s understand how to become a stewardess on a yacht in South Africa.
Who is a Stewardess?
If the deckhand is the exterior crew, then the stewardesses are the interior crew. From thoroughly managing the interiors as per the high expectations of high-class guests to providing various guest services on a five-star level, they do it all. They are tenacious, witty, flexible, enduring, and remain evergreen, regardless.
A professional appearance is like second nature to them. As a well-versed crew with etiquette, serving, and wine knowledge, they make excellent key players in managing high-profile guests onboard. If this sounds like your calling, then perhaps it is time you consider becoming a steward/stewardess.
Related: What does a Stewardess do on a Yacht in South Africa?
How do I become a Stewardess on a Yacht in South Africa?
Let’s begin with the most basic! If you are a veteran reader of our website, you must have realised what we are talking about by now. But, for the sake of transparency in presenting information, let us understand the basic requirements.
- The ENG1 medical certificate of fitness. We can make this appointment for you; and
- The five basic STCW modules or commonly known as STCW Safety Training.
Besides these, we highly recommend you take the RYA Powerboat Level 2 course, along with the SRC VHF Radio Course as well. It comes in handy when you are required to drive a tender for different purposes, such as guest transport or provision transport.
With these qualifications, you are ready to be a stewardess on a yacht. However, there are a few courses that can enhance your understanding of the job and the industry. They will also help you hone your skills to better tackle the challenges in this career path.
The Stewardess Course
While the Stewardess course is optional, we highly recommend you take the stewardess course. It will help you understand this role better. This includes but is not limited to, etiquette training, food service, and wine and beverage service.
Unless you have a five-star service experience, we highly recommend this course as it helps to understand the mountainous difference between a regular steward job and a five-star steward job. This course includes the following.
- Introduction to Interior Duties. Your job role, interview process, resume building, common yacht dos and don’ts, etiquette, appearance and presentation and more are included in this section.
- The Laundry Course allows you to have an understanding of caring for expensive and rare fabrics, handling or removing stains, understanding superyacht laundry equipment and operating them efficiently.
- Basic Deck Knowledge includes knots and line handling, fenders, powerboat handling (RYA PB2 required), VHF Radio Communication (SRC VHF Required), and Onboard Safety.
- Table Setting and Presentation includes table layout, cutlery placements, flower arrangements, and more.
- Food and Beverage Services mainly include serving mannerisms, working with different menus and demands, catering to special orders, and more.
- Wine and Cocktail Services include an introduction to the World of Wine Tasting, Pairings, Cocktail Blending, and other services.
The Stewardess Course package includes the above plus the STCW Safety Course, Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (PDSD), RYA Powerboat Level 2 Course, SRC VHF Radio, and more. For more information, kindly visit our Stewardess webpage.
Quick Word
It is no easy task to become a stewardess on a yacht in South Africa. To work on the international superyacht scene, you must first sharpen your skills through practical knowledge. South African yacht and cruise scene provide an excellent opportunity to enjoy life on the sea while working and earning as a stewardess.
For more information, feel free to connect with us on Skipper Training SA and we will do our best to help you out. Or check our FAQ for more insights into the yachting industry.
