Glamour, glitz and demanding work

During the Monaco Grand Prix the cameras don’t just focus on the flashy F1 cars – there are always the scenes of stunning superyachts in the harbour and talk of which ultra-high-net-worth individuals (known as UHNWI) might be on board. Indeed, for those more interested in what’s happening in the waters of the French Riviera, the annual Monaco Yacht Show is the event you can’t miss, when the world’s newest and largest yachts arrive to impress the watchers.

We can but dream but, for some people, getting up as close as possible to the superyachts includes landing a job on one of them, and that often includes being a housekeeping star within the crew. Here’s an insider’s view. Emma Fox is a graduate of IYT (International Yacht Training) and she reveals: “When working for UHNWI, your ideas of high-standards and five-star housekeeping get exploded. One minute you are ironing sheets to go onto a bed, the next you’re preparing for a helicopter to land on the bow.

“I got into yachting because I could never stay in one place, sitting behind a desk. In yachting, you take passionate, highly skilled, slightly crazy people from all over the world, and put them on a yacht to work and live together – amazing things can happen.”

Ultimately, superyacht housekeeping demands resilience, pride in one’s work and exceptional attention to detail – proving that housekeeping beyond hotels is as demanding as it is impressive and a world away from the traditional hotel environment, in more ways than one. While the core principles of cleanliness, presentation and guest satisfaction remain the same, delivery is shaped by confined spaces, constant movement, and exceptionally high expectations. Unlike hotels, superyacht housekeeping teams operate within a fully mobile luxury environment. Cabins are generally smaller but far more detailed, materials are often bespoke and delicate, and there is little margin for error. Every surface, fabric and finish must be maintained to immaculate standards, frequently while the vessel is underway or guests are onboard.

Turnover can be fast-paced and unpredictable. Charter yachts may host an entirely new group of guests every week, requiring full cabin resets, deep cleaning and meticulous preparation within very tight timeframes. Seasonal peaks add further pressure, particularly during busy Mediterranean summers or Caribbean winters, when workloads can intensify significantly. Discretion is one of the greatestchallenges. Housekeepers must work seamlessly around guests’ schedules, refreshing spaces without being seen or heard. This demands strong communication within the interior team, adaptability, and a calm, professional approach under pressure.

Innovation also plays a role. Many yachts rely on structured checklists, colour-coded systems and strict inventory management to maintain consistency across charters. Sustainability is increasingly important too, with crews adapting products and processes to reduce waste while preserving luxury standards. This is perhaps where there’s an overlap with some of the people skills and ingenuity required at our five-star hotels, where many of the wealthiest individuals take a suite – or even a whole floor – when back on land for a while.

But one of the greatest differences is the training required to be able to do this work, and that includes international legal requirements for working at sea. IYT offers courses for the professional superyacht industry from interior and deck crew training right up to Master of Yachts level to cross oceans. Housekeepers don’t need the latter, of course, but IYT can provide whatever level of training is needed, help candidates achieve the necessary qualifications and guide them towards a fulfilling career in the industry. The IYT certificate can be used globally, and they insist on trainees understanding regulations, weather systems and tidal calculations in the northern and southern hemispheres.

IYT schools operate on all six continents, and the modular approach means it’s possible to begin training in the Mediterranean and finish in the Caribbean, for instance. What will a course cover? Naturally it starts with how the superyacht world operates, and industry-specific issues like flag state registrations, how the British Coastguard operates and what nautical qualifications you must achieve. Then there’s something we’d all recognise, including chain of command, rank, safety and personal appearance requirements. But forget the rules of hotel trolleys and replace that with the likes of seamanship and operating a VHF radio.

Next up comes detailed wine and food service training – from cocktail garnishes to caviar or cigar services through to table place setting, serving meals in cabins and the ultimate turn down service. This leads to the bit we’re most familiar with, cleaning (and what you can do if guests are onboard or not), caring for china, and polishing silver. Finally, we’ve reached a familiar destination – bed making and laundry and stain removal. The course tutors might well liaise with a local hotel to arrange practical lessons in bedmaking and instruction on cleaning.

Add in flower arranging and fruit baskets before a final written exam. Superyacht interior crew must also hold STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) certification, which is mandatory in the UK joining a cruise line or starting a career on a superyacht. IYT also advise applicants to consider completing their ‘small powerboat and RIB’ course which allows operation of small powerboats and rigid inflatable boats and is required by law in the Mediterranean. Their training is recognised in 24 jurisdictions worldwide and by a growing number of maritime associations. They are members of the Canadian Safe Boating Council and the British Marine Federation.

Warsash Maritime School based at Solent University provides high-quality education and training for the maritime and offshore industries and offers STCW safety training delivered by technical specialists with many years’ experience in their field. But it’s not all technical as Warsash has partnered with LH Academy’s housekeeping specialist course, which is delivered from the academy’s training facility near Amsterdam. Subjects covered include housekeeping organisation, valet services and practices; cleaning methods and techniques; eco-cleaning and fabric knowledge. Laundry structures and equipment sit alongside ‘the art of ironing’ and linen storage and care. And those all-important flower orders, floral designs and plant care complete the course. Successful candidates achieve certificates as a luxury hospitality specialist with advanced skills in housekeeping, valet services and laundry work.

UKSA, the UK Sailing Academy, is a charitable trust operating from Cowes, Isle of Wight. For over 40 years it’s been delivering training and mentoring to thousands of young people, many of whom want to work on superyachts, including those transferring from other areas of hospitality, seeking a career which can take them from deckhand to officer.

The UKSA Superyacht stewardess and steward course is a fully immersive, industry-recognised training programme, combining essential safety certifications with hands-on hospitality training.

Happy sailing and don’t forget the best champagne for those special guests!