Written by Liberty
It’s the dream, right? Island-hopping on floating mansions, sunsets off the bow, and endless adventure. But for yacht crew, the reality is a world away from what most people imagine — and far more rewarding.
Everyone thinks working on a Superyacht is just like Below Deck — drama, cocktails and gossip. Spoiler alert, it’s mostly scrubbing, sweating and praying the crew hold it together until the end of the charter. But I wouldn’t change it for the world.
I didn’t grow up knowing I’d build a life on the water. Honestly, I didn’t know what I was meant to do at all — I just knew I wanted more than ordinary. The idea of waking up in the same place, doing the same thing, being boxed into some version of success that didn’t feel like success to me — that scared me more than taking a risk ever could.
So I took the leap.
I started in the Superyacht industry as a deckhand/stewardess, right at the bottom. I didn’t know a thing about the job — all I knew was that I love a good challenge. I cleaned toilets, scrubbed teak, polished stainless until I could see my soul in it, hauled fenders, ironed beds, folded toilet paper into diamonds. I did it all. And somewhere between the bruises and tired eyes, I found a moment as I watched the sun fall behind the horizon, I realised this is exactly what I was born to do.
“Somewhere between the bruises and tired eyes, I found peace. This is exactly what I was born to do.”
I felt peace out there.
What started as a wild shot in the dark turned into the foundation of my life. I studied. I pushed. I got my captain’s ticket. Became a dive instructor. Got my marine engineering qualifications. I kept showing up — even when I was exhausted.
Being a woman in a male-dominated industry came with its own set of battles. But I wanted this life so badly that nothing could stand in my way.
Here’s the truth: it’s not always pretty. People romanticise this lifestyle — the yachts, the travel, the tan.
They think that it is all palm trees and sunsets — and yes, it can be that. But it’s also long hours, grit, sweat, sacrifice. You miss birthdays. You wake up at 2 am for anchor watch. You sleep in tight bunks. You deal with egos — sometimes guests’, sometimes crew.
But — You also wake up in places most people could only dream about. You swim with dolphins before breakfast.
You meet the most beautiful humans, from all walks of life. And if you’re anything like me, you fall head over heels for the constant feeling of motion. I live for moments that don’t fit in a box: the spontaneous dives, the stormy nights, the conversations with strangers who become family.
This industry isn’t just a job. It’s a lifestyle. It demands resilience, curiosity, teamwork, and grit. But if you give yourself to it, it will shape you in the most incredible ways. You learn to live with less. You learn that memories are so much more valuable than materialistic things. That time, connection, and presence are everything.
This isn’t just a job. It’s a way of life — one that’s anything but ordinary. And it’s one that’s wide open for anyone willing you push themselves and take the risk.
“This isn’t just a job. It’s a way of life — one that’s anything but ordinary.”