To make the most of your luxury charter yacht, you need to hire yacht crew who are professional, courteous and have diverse skills to offer your guests.
While the STCW certificate is a minimum requirement, the best yachts boast crew who have been trained at some of the world’s leading institutions. So, which are they, and what are the key skills to look out for?
What to look out for when hiring yacht crew
During yacht crew recruitment, look out for those with qualifications learnt at the following institutions:
Norland College, Bath, UK
Norland Nannies are renowned the world over, with royalty and VIPs choosing their qualified early years practitioners to take care of their children. Having a Norland Nanny with either a BA (Hons) in Early Years Development and Learning or the prestigious Norland diploma onboard your yacht will give families confidence and peace of mind.
International Butler Academy, Simpelveld, The Netherlands
Graduates of the International Butler Academy (TIBA) get recruited by the wealthiest families, businesses, five-star hotels, resorts, private clubs, cruise lines and, of course, superyachts. Located at a sprawling private estate, the skills of butling, house management, hospitality and service are all covered, enabling graduates to run a luxury yacht with confidence and style.
Culinary Arts Academy, Lucerne and Le Bouveret, Switzerland
One of the most respected culinary institutions globally, the Culinary Arts Academy offers a Bachelor’s Degree or diploma in Culinary Arts, and diplomas in Pastry and Chocolate Arts and Vegetarian Culinary Arts. Graduates from here will be able to offer your guests delicious and innovative cuisine that suits all tastes.
Alain Ducasse Cooking School, Paris, France
Alternatively, when hiring yacht crew, look for crew who have been trained by a renowned Michelin-starred chef, such as Alain Ducasse, who has held no fewer than 21 Michelin stars during his distinguished career. His culinary school offers classes in Bistro and Grande Cuisine, Cooking for Special Events, Pastry and Wine.
Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET)
For the best sommeliers when hiring yacht crew, look for yacht crew with qualifications gained from WSET, which is globally recognised as the international standard in wine and spirit knowledge. Your guests will require the most sophisticated wines and spirits during their stay, which a graduate from WSET will be able to provide.
Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)
Some guests will doubtless be keen to try scuba diving, and to guarantee their safety, make sure to recruit yacht crew trained by PADI, the world’s leading training organisation. Look out for those qualified as Open Water Scuba Instructors or Advanced Freediver Instructors.
Warsash Maritime School, Southampton, UK
Warsash Maritime School offers numerous accredited training courses and is also a world leader in superyacht training. They offer programmes for captains and deck officers, engineering officers and interior and hotel operations, where crew are trained to provide a seven-star service to guests.
It takes the best yacht crew recruitment specialists to attract the most qualified candidates, so to ensure you hire the best crew possible for your yacht, make sure to work with an experienced yacht crew recruitment agency.
