My Own Experience
Someone told me I'd make a great stewardess. Then, completely unconnected to that conversation, someone else told me I should get into yachting.
I didn't know about yachting and investigated! I did my STCW course on the Isle of Wight. I got my ENG1 in Manchester. Someone told me to get a train to Antibes, there'd be loads of job offers for someone like me.
I did. There weren't.
I dockwalked along the coast of France for weeks. I turned up early every morning with the other greenies, waiting for the agencies to open. I registered with every agency I could, checked in online every day, and waited. Eventually I went back to London and carried on with my old job.
Then unexpectedly, a call about a job on a yacht. Are you available?
I wasn't dockwalking, I wasn't in a yachtie hub, but next thing I knew I was on a flight to join a yacht to become a stewardess!
I hadn't attended a superyacht training school. Instead, I came from a very strong hospitality background, bringing years of experience in service, guest care and professionalism. With the guidance of a great captain who recognised those transferable skills, I developed and quite soon progressed to Chief Stewardess. That's how I became a stewardess. Looking back, I realise now that my path into yachting was anything but typical.
According to the internet, it's quite simple.
Get your STCW and ENG1. This is non-negotiable.
Base yourself in one of the yachtie hubs where the superyachts berth and where other aspiring crew are looking for their first opportunity. Perfect your CV. Dock walk. Register with every agency that will have you. Network. Apply for jobs. Hope your CV catches someone's eye. Hope you get the interview. Then, if the timing is right, the opportunity comes along and you're the person they're looking for, congratulations. You've landed your first job.
And there you are, on that luxurious yacht, somewhere off the coast of a gorgeous Caribbean island.
Only now you're on your hands and knees scrubbing the fourth toilet that morning. Your back hurts. You're running on six hours' sleep. You're wondering whether the owner actually likes you because they barely acknowledged you at breakfast. And you've just realised you haven't stepped ashore for five days.
But hey… you're a superyacht stewardess.
That's the reality of the job. It's exciting, rewarding and, yes, there are plenty of glamorous moments. But there's also hard work, long days, high expectations and a lot to learn very quickly.
Which is exactly why getting your first season right matters so much. Stepping onto a yacht for the first time is about so much more than getting the certificates and landing the job. It's about understanding what you're walking into, knowing what will be expected of you, and having the practical knowledge and confidence to hit the ground running.
That's where one-to-one training and coaching can make such a difference. Having someone with real industry experience to prepare you for the reality of life on board, answer your questions, work through the situations you may encounter and help you understand what's expected of you can give you a much stronger foundation before you step onto your first yacht.
I've met many aspiring stewardesses who have completed exactly the same training, but struggle to find work. They have completely different strengths, confidence levels and support needs. That's what made me question whether one approach really suits everyone.
That's what made me question whether one approach really suits everyone.
Why One Size Doesn't Fit All
Every person who walks through a classroom door is different.
Some arrive with years of luxury hospitality experience. Others have worked in aviation, hospitals, HR, retail, restaurants or customer service. Some have never worked in hospitality at all. They bring different strengths, different weaknesses, different levels of confidence and different life experiences.
So why should they all receive exactly the same training?
Great stewardesses aren't developed by putting everyone through the same system.
It isn't about squeezing everyone into the same mould. It's about building on the skills they already possess, developing the ones they don't, and preparing them for the realities of the job, not just the theory of it. This is where one-to-one training comes into its own.
The practical skills are the easy part. I can teach someone to lay a table, polish glassware or make a bed to superyacht standards. Those are skills, and skills can be taught to anyone willing to learn.
But professionalism, discretion, emotional intelligence, resilience, judgement and the ability to remain calm under pressure are what separate a competent stewardess from an exceptional one. Developing those qualities takes a different approach, one built on recognising what's already there and bringing it forward.
Captains and owners can trust you when you have the awareness to notice what others miss.
Captains and owners can trust you when you have the awareness to notice what others miss, the judgement to respond appropriately, and the professionalism to maintain remarkably high standards, even on the longest and most demanding days. Believe me, they are plentiful.
Those qualities aren't gained from technical training alone. They develop when someone takes the time to recognise your potential, challenge you and help you grow. As your skills grow, so does your confidence, and that confidence is what enables you to stand out professionally.
It's the difference between learning how to do the job and becoming the stewardess every captain hopes will join their crew.
That's the philosophy behind AiMZ. It's the approach I wish more aspiring stewardesses had access to when they first entered the industry.
Your training should reflect your experience, build on your strengths, not just help you tick another box.