Who’s Who? Get to know the Crew Roles on a Luxury Crewed Yacht

When it comes to the crew on a luxury crewed yacht, it’s important to know who’s who and what each crew member’s responsibilities will be throughout your charter. The luxury crewed yachts we book mainly have between 2 and 4 crew, however, a luxury crewed yacht can have anything from 2 to 50 crew members each with a very specific and important role.

The Captain & Chef

Every luxury crewed yacht will have a Captain and Chef, an incredibly important team who ensure the safety and 5-star experience for all guests onboard.

The Captain is in charge of the entire yacht and those onboard and are tasked with:

• Ensuring the safety of passengers, crew, and the vessel
• Navigating routes, monitoring weather, and planning itineraries
• Overseeing all operations, maintenance, and crew performance
• Serving as the primary point of contact for guests to ensure their requests and expectations are met

The Chef is responsible for ensuring the taste buds and tummies of all onboard (crew included) are satisfied. A chef’s key duties include: Creating gourmet meals tailored to guests’ preferences and dietary restrictions Provisioning and sourcing fresh, high-quality ingredients Managing the galley (kitchen), ensuring cleanliness and organization at all times Collaborating with the stewardess/hostess or working solo to deliver exceptional dining experiences

Our three favourite two-crew luxury crewed yachts are:

• Captain Dominic and Chef Hannah from Mucho Gusto | Horizon 65
• Captain Dean and Chef Charne from Wanderlust | Lagoon 50
• Captain Tommy and Chef Emma from Olivia Charles | Fountaine Pajot 58

The Third

On bigger yachts you’ll get a third crew member who will either be a Deckhand, First Mate or Steward/ess, or a combination of all three! The Third’s hybrid role combines both interior and exterior technical and guest-service responsibilities, depending on the size of the yacht and crew structure. These may include:

• Deckhand: Assisting with docking, line handling, and maintenance of the yacht’s exterior.
• First Mate: Supporting the captain in navigation, safety protocols, and managing deck operations.
• Steward/ess: Handling interior duties like housekeeping, serving meals, and ensuring guest comfort.

Our three favourite three-crew luxury crewed yachts include:

• Captain Paul, Chef April & Chief Steward George Filip from Seaglass | Horizon 74
• Captain Ben, Chef Ashley & Steward Rene from Bagheera | Lagoon 620
• Captain Simon, Chef Amber & Deckhand Antonius from Liquid Sky | Fountaine Pajot Alegria 67

The Fourth

When you enter the 77+ ft range you can also often get a fourth crew member, often with the title of Hostess or Steward/ess who’s primary focus is on providing exceptional guest experiences and maintaining the yacht’s interior. Their daily tasks would include:

• Preparing and serving drinks and snacks.
• Organizing themed nights or activities for guests.
• Maintaining a clean, organized, and welcoming environment in guest areas.
• Working closely with other crew members to coordinate service and hospitality.

Our favourite four-crew luxury crewed yachts have to be:

• Captain Michael, Chef Casey, First Mate Christo and Stewardess Chene from Aeolus 77 | Lagoon Seventy 7
• Captain Jonathan, Chef Dominic, Chief Stewardess Tracy and Deckhand Mitchel from Endless Horizon | Sunreef 80
• Captain Darrel, Chef Jenn, Mate Chris and Stewardess Jenny from Angeleyes | Horizon FD85

No matter the size of the crew or yacht, each member onboard contributes to the overall luxury experience of the guests, which is why we find it so incredibly important to meet and assess the crews of the various luxury crewed yachts we charter.

To book a luxury crewed yacht vacation with a professional, friendly and experienced crew, contact Kayleigh our luxury crewed yacht specialist.