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If you are looking for a career path inside the yachting industry that prioritizes your well-being and doesn’t compromise your financial stability and lifestyle, it may be worth considering becoming a full-time yacht stewardess freelancer.
During my 16 years at sea, I worked on permanent jobs for the first 7 years. As a full-time employee, I always tried my best to keep up with the job’s demands, but despite my efforts, I eventually shut down my emotions and ignored the physical pain, thinking that persevering was just part of the job.
Eventually, my body and mind gave out, and I was forced to resign and take time to heal. During this time, I was able to shift away from the mindset that working myself to the bone was the only way to be productive. This experience taught me the importance of self-care and balance in our careers.
So Why Do Freelance?
Upon my return to the yachting industry, I made a crucial decision. I would only take on freelance and seasonal jobs, ensuring I had ample time to recharge and recuperate. This commitment to self-care and setting boundaries was a game-changer for my mental and physical health.
As a yacht crew freelancer, you get more time to dedicate to your health, personal projects, goals, and family and friends. Plus, you can choose when and who to work for, giving you a sense of empowerment and control over your career.
With my nine years of freelance experience in the yachting industry, I’m excited to share the top 10 strategies that have helped me succeed as a full-time yacht stewardess freelancer.
10 Strategies
1. Know your why — Why do you want to become a full-time yacht stew freelancer? As mentioned above, my why was my mental and physical well-being. However, for you, it could be spending more time with your family or having more time to work on your business idea.
Whatever it is, knowing your why is vital, as it is your core source of motivation. It is the reference point for all your decisions and actions within the context of your freelancing career. Know that your why will also shift as your goals and priorities evolve.
2. Get clear on your financial goals and budget — As a freelancer, you won’t receive a consistent salary, but you can earn more money in less time. To set financial goals and create a budget that meets your requirements, you must know how much money you will need to support yourself weekly, monthly, and yearly. Knowing your budget will give you insight into how often and long you need to work to meet your budget and financial goals. Check out my blog on 10 Money Tips for Yacht Stews for additional financial advice.
3. Have an Emergency Fund —An emergency fund is a personal budget set aside as a financial safety net for future mishaps or unexpected expenses. Ideally, before going full-time, you should aim to save one year’s worth of your monthly expenses or a minimum of six months. Knowing you are prepared for the unexpected will give you financial safety, aka peace of mind.
4. Get insured — As a freelancer, you will not have certain benefits full-time employees have onboard, like medical and disability insurance. This is why you must get medical and disability insurance before embarking on your full-time freelance career. Medical insurance is the most important insurance for a crew member working on a yacht. This becomes even more essential if you are working in the USA/Canadian waters, as the medical bills in these countries are likely to give you nightmares!
Another most have is disability insurance. Disability insurance protects and replaces a portion of your lost income if you can’t work due to a qualifying illness or injury. And if you have kids and a family to care for, I suggest looking into life insurance. Click here to learn about yacht crew insurance and how to get it.
5. Establish your daily rate — As a freelancer, you won’t receive a monthly salary. Instead, you’ll be paid a daily rate unless it’s a seasonal job that pays a monthly paycheck reflecting the current yacht crew salary guidelines (these guidelines are from the YPI CREW Data).
Your daily rate should reflect your expertise and experience. For instance, if you have 0-2 years of experience, your daily rate can be $150-$200 USD. If you have up to five years of experience, your daily rate can be between $250-$275 USD, and if you are a veteran with 5+ years as a Chief Stew, you can charge a daily rate of $300-350 USD.
6. Figure out your ideal job(s) — Knowing what type of jobs you want to take as a freelancer is essential. This will help you find them more quickly and narrow down your options.
For instance, when I began my full-time freelance career in 2014, I decided to work as a seasonal Chief Stewardess. This clarity allowed me to find a program where I became their ongoing seasonal Chief Stew for four years.
While on board, I negotiated a higher salary than the guidelines. Keep in mind at this stage, I was a senior chief stewardess and massage therapist with over eight years of experience, so my salary expectations matched the value of my work onboard. After four years, I left that fantastic gig and started working more frequently year-round but for shorter periods (no more than one month at a time).
During this time, I was happy to take on any stewardess job as long as they paid me my fixed rate. This allowed me to work more frequently to support my new financial and personal goals. During this period, I worked as a deck/stew, 2nd stew, solo stew, and chief stewardess.
In my last two years as a freelancer, I decided only to take on interior facilitator jobs, which required me to train interior teams to become successful as first-time charter vessels or help them elevate their hospitality service and housekeeping standards. My favorite job was training 2nd stews, transitioning into their first chief stew job, which is why I created the Mermaids Kick-Starter Bible templates and educational material for Soon-to-Be Chief Stews.
I share this so you understand that knowing what role(s) you are willing to do is one of the keys to manifesting them into your reality. I am a living, breathing example of this. That’s why I highly recommend watching the YM “Manifest Your Dream Job” masterclass for those who want to dive deeper into creating their dream job ASAP. Click here to join the class inside the MKSB members area.
7. Choose your base location —Choosing the place where you will live and work as a freelancer is extremely important because it can either support or challenge your career. When I decided to work more frequently for shorter periods, I chose to base myself in Miami because I had friends I could stay with for free and was near Fort Lauderdale, one of the biggest yachting capitals of the world.
Choosing South Florida as my base allowed me to create a strong network of ongoing freelance gigs. Soon enough, I became the go-to freelancer for my friends and crew agencies. I was booked in advance and banking it. Keep in mind that even though I am from Puerto Rico, I have an American Passport, which allows me to look for work on US soil and stay in it indefinitely.
Choosing the right location that suits your freelance goals, budget, and legal status is crucial. For example, if you wish to base yourself in South Africa, it may be challenging for you to find freelance work. Because generally, the boat will choose the crew member closest to the vessel unless you possess a unique skill they require.
Remember that you can base yourself in different locations depending on the yachting seasons you want to work. Consider Antibes, Palma, Turkey, or FLL during the summer, and for the winter season, FLL/Miami or the Caribbean (Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and SXM). Fort Lauderdale is a great choice if you want to work year-round, but it is also an expensive location. And don’t forget that your legal status will also determine where you can stay for extended periods and legally look for work onboard yachts.
8. Avoid the #1 mistake yacht crew freelancers make —As a freelancer, it is crucial to have a freelance SEA (Seafarer Employment Agreement), aka a contract, signed before boarding and ask for a 25% retainer if they book you in advance.
If you don’t, you risk not getting paid and having your seafarer rights disrespected.
The truth is that some state flags, like the USA, are not legally required to give you a contract, as they are not part of the MLC (Maritime Labour Convention), but this does not prevent you from asking for one. If they don’t want to give you one, do not work for them. This is a massive red flag!
Owning a freelance SEA template is your lifesaver, a professional freelancer. Click here to Download the YM Freelance SEA Editable Template and minimize payment uncertainties.
9. Be Prepared for the Unexpected — As a freelancer, specifically if working chief stew and solo stew gigs, you have to be prepared for the unexpected, like joining a vessel and finding out there are no checklists or SOP manual, aka Stew Bible, available. Which is what you will find 90% of the time. This is why having an editable interior management system like the Mermaids Kick-Starter Bible is crucial to making your job easier.
The Mermaids Kick-Starter Bible is everything you need to create a “Stew Bible” in hours, so you can feel confident as a Chief Stew! — Guaranteed. Click here to download the MKSB.
10. Ensure all maritime documents and CV are up to date — Before starting your full-time freelance career, ensure all your seafarer documents and certifications, such as ENG1 and STCW, are current. Also, update your CV and Cover Letter to align them with your new career path. If you need assistance upgrading your Resume and Cover Letter, click here to get a free assessment.
Once your documents are ready, upload them to all the crew agencies and inform everyone you know in the industry about your new career path so they can support you in your journey. Word of mouth is the best form of marketing; that is how I found 90% of my freelance gigs.
In conclusion, becoming a full-time freelancer can be a great option for those looking for a flexible schedule within the yachting industry. However, it is not suitable for everyone. Therefore, it is essential to understand what will best support your goals and needs.
Take it from me that I had to learn the hard way about many of the things I shared with you here. If freelancing is the right option for you, preparing for it is the key to a successful journey. My advice is to follow the guidance above to enjoy the benefits of becoming a full-time yacht stew freelancer.
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