Work as a Host/Chef on a Yacht
Where Hospitality Meets the Sea.
As a Yacht Week Host, you’ll be the heartbeat of the guest experience — planning meals, creating unforgettable dinners on deck, and making sure each crew has the time of their lives.
It’s about more than cooking: it’s building community, keeping energy high, and helping guests feel cared for from sunrise to sunset. All hosts begin their journey at Quarterdeck Host Academy.
This intensive, week-long training equips you with everything you need to succeed in a yacht galley, manage guest expectations, and thrive as part of an international team. No other role gives you this unique mix of hospitality, adventure, and lifelong friendship.
Your mission
To curate and deliver an unforgettable, stress-free holiday for groups of 6 to 12 guests onboard a 40–60ft sailing yacht or catamaran. You will act as their personal chef, onboard host, and go-to guide—turning local ingredients into incredible meals, maintaining a beautifully clean interior, and bringing the positive energy that turns a group of travelers into a tight-knit family.
Key responsibility
- Culinary Excellence: Plan menus, manage food budgets, and source fresh local ingredients to prepare daily breakfasts, light lunches, and two special dinners on deck, seamlessly accommodating various guest dietary requirements.
- Galley & Provisioning Control: Manage pre-arrival and mid-week provisioning, maintain stock levels, and minimize food waste while keeping your compact kitchen organized.
- Onboard Interior Upkeep: Maintain high hygiene and cleanliness standards in the galley, saloon, and all shared guest spaces throughout the week.
- Vibe & Atmosphere Management: Host guests with a warm, energetic, and professional presence—from welcoming them onboard to styling beautiful dining setups and keeping the crew's spirits high.
- Team Collaboration: Partner closely with your skipper as a cohesive team to support yacht operations (such as assisting with mooring or safety) and coordinate the daily itinerary.
The ideal candidate
- Age: Minimum 20 years old by the start of the season.
- Background: Prior experience in hospitality, professional kitchens, customer service, or informal guest-facing roles (like hosting large dinner parties).
- Cooking Confidence: Comfortable independently planning, prepping, and cooking multiple meals a day for up to 12 people in a compact, moving galley.
- Energy: Exceptionally positive, highly adaptable to changing schedules, and naturally skilled at keeping crew spirits high
- Availability: Ready and available to work multiple weeks during the peak Mediterranean charter season (June to August).
- Team Spirit: A collaborative mindset, ready to work side-by-side with your skipper and maintain clear, warm boundaries with guests.
Your weekly schedule
Popular venues
Vis Island, Croatia: The historic home of Quarterdeck's training base, Fort George dinners, and legendary island-hopping routes.
Saronic Gulf, Greece: Traditional harbor towns, seaside tavernas, and peaceful Mediterranean bays.
British Virgin Islands (Caribbean): Tropical sailing through white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and iconic beachside venues.
Life onboard
Living and working on a yacht is a lifestyle like no other. You will live onboard alongside your skipper, sharing crew quarters and working closely together in a compact environment. Because space is limited, organization is your superpower. While the days are fast-paced and require hard work under time pressure, you are living directly on the water, waking up in new bays every morning, and joining a close-knit, passionate international crew community.
What you get
Weekly Competitive Pay: Earn a set rate per charter week worked.
Expenses Covered: Your onboard accommodation, food, and living expenses are fully covered while on assignment.
Industry-Leading Training: Access to Quarterdeck's world-renowned Host Academy, getting you fully certified and job-ready.
Global Community: Entrance into an elite, supportive network of maritime hospitality professionals, skippers, and chefs.
Travel + destination
Your office is a moving deck. As a Yacht Week Host, you'll travel through some of the most scenic coastlines in the world, guiding your guests through turquoise waters, historic ports, and breathtaking anchorages.
| Destination | Airport |
|---|---|
| Croatia (Split & Vis) | Split SPU |
| Greece (Saronic Gulf) | Athens International Airport ATH |
| Caribbean (BVI) | Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport EIS |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need sailing experience to work as a yacht host?
Not necessarily. Sailing experience is not usually required for host roles. Most charter yachts operate with a qualified skipper responsible for sailing the boat. Hosts are hired for their hospitality skills. Basic sea legs and comfort on the water are helpful.
Is yacht host work suitable for beginners?
Yes, with the right preparation. Galley Academy and Host Academy are both designed to take people from little or no experience through to a job-ready placement standard.
How much does a yacht host earn?
Yacht hosts typically earn €600 to €1,600 per week, with accommodation and food included during charter weeks. Flotilla and group events sit at the lower end, charter company placements in the middle, and private charters at the top. Tips can add meaningfully to weekly earnings.
Apply
Beyond Yacht Week
Passing the Quarterdeck Host Academy is just the beginning. Once you are part of the vetted Quarterdeck talent pool, you unlock access to our broader recruitment pipeline. Successful hosts regularly transition into premium roles, including private yacht charters, luxury villa chef positions worldwide, and high-end ski chalet placements in the European Alps during the winter season. Your summer at sea is a launchpad to a global hospitality career.