A job onboard a superyacht has many appealing features, especially for a budding chef.
If you love to travel and have experience in the food industry, have you ever considered taking your culinary skills to the open seas?
Working as a yacht chef can be an incredibly rewarding and lucrative career, offering adventure, international travel, and the opportunity to work in a unique environment.
Not only will you be cooking aboard luxury vessels, but you may also be eligible for tax-free income under the Seafarers' Earnings Deduction (SED) scheme.
With all living expenses - food, accommodation, and travel - covered by your employer, this career offers a great chance to save and invest for the future.
Here is everything you need to know about becoming a yacht chef, from qualifications and experience to salary expectations and career prospects.
Chapters
- How to Become a Yacht Chef
- Qualifications Required
- Necessary Experience
- Typical Yacht Chef Duties
- Yacht Chef Salary Ranges
- Do Yacht Chefs Earn Tips?
- Conclusion
- Contact Us
How to Become a Yacht Chef
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Landing a job as a yacht chef is highly competitive. Most are recruited from fine dining restaurants, hotels, or private catering roles, where high standards and versatility are essential.
If you are new to the yachting world, consider starting as a crew or second chef. These entry-level positions allow you to learn the ropes, build experience, and form valuable industry contacts.
Personal attributes such as positivity, adaptability, creativity, and professionalism are just as important as culinary ability. A strong work ethic and a calm approach under pressure are vital traits for life at sea.
Qualifications Required
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Before applying for any chef role aboard a yacht, you will need a few key qualifications and certifications:
- STCW Basic Safety Training: A mandatory course covering sea survival, firefighting, first aid, and personal safety.
- ENG1 Medical Certificate: Confirms you are medically fit to work at sea.
- Food Hygiene Level 2: Essential for anyone working with food, ensuring knowledge of safe handling and storage practices.
- Sommelier Training (optional): Adds valuable expertise in wine pairing and service.
- Silver Service Qualification: Demonstrates experience in fine dining and high-end guest service.
Necessary Experience
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Experience in a commercial kitchen is invaluable. Working in busy environments helps you handle pressure, plan menus, and deliver consistent quality at scale.
Key skills and experience to develop include:
- Commercial Kitchen Experience: Build your ability to manage time, team dynamics, and high-volume cooking.
- Knowledge of Regional Produce: Source and adapt to local ingredients at different ports.
- Budget Management: Work within financial limits while maintaining quality and variety.
- Nutrition and Allergy Awareness: Cater to diverse dietary needs and preferences.
- Flexible Menu Planning: Plan meals with limited supplies and changing guest requirements.
- Presentation and Creativity: Deliver dishes that impress visually as much as they delight the palate.
- Teamwork and Leadership: Collaborate effectively with galley and service staff.
- Organisational Skills: Maintain an orderly galley and manage provisioning efficiently.
- Basic Accounting and IT Skills: Useful for managing budgets, inventories, and communications.
Typical Yacht Chef Duties
While menu planning and cooking are central, a yacht chef's role is far broader. Responsibilities include galley organisation, provisioning, hygiene management, and maintaining strict food safety standards.
Presentation is key - guests on luxury yachts expect restaurant-quality meals every time. You will often cater to high-profile clients with diverse dietary preferences, requiring creativity and precision.
Long hours are common, especially during busy charter periods, but the rewards - both professional and financial - are considerable.
Yacht Chef Salary Ranges
| Size of Vessel | Monthly Salary (USD) |
|---|---|
| 20-40m | $4,750 - $7,000 |
| 40-60m | about $7,500 |
| 60m+ | about $8,750 |
| 80m+ | $8,750 - $10,500 |
Note: Figures are estimates and may vary depending on vessel type, experience, and whether the chef is on rotation.
Smaller yachts often have a single chef responsible for both crew and guest meals. Larger yachts may employ an executive chef, sous chef, and crew chef team. Rotational roles tend to offer slightly higher pay but are less common.
Do Yacht Chefs Earn Tips?
Yes, yacht chefs typically share in charter tips, which usually range from 5% to 15% of the total charter fee. Tips are divided among the crew at the captain's discretion.
And remember: if you work at sea for more than half the year, you may qualify for tax-free income under HMRC's Seafarers' Earnings Deduction. Use the residency test to check your eligibility.
Conclusion
Becoming a yacht chef is an exciting and rewarding career path that combines culinary artistry with global travel. Success in this role requires not just cooking talent, but also flexibility, organisation, and strong interpersonal skills.
Register with reputable crew agencies, network within the yachting community, and continue developing your culinary skills to increase your chances of landing your dream job at sea.
Contact Us
If you are considering a career as a yacht chef or need guidance on working at sea tax-free, our team can help.
Simply get in touch with us or leave a comment below.
Disclaimer: Any advice in this publication is not intended or written by Marine Accounts to be used by a client or entity for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party matters herein.
