Blog

How to Find Your First Yacht Chef Job becoming a yacht chef getting started jobs q&a Jul 06, 2026

I've literally been hired every single way possible — through an agent, word of mouth, a fellow yachtie, LinkedIn and even Instagram. So take it from someone who's tested every channel: here's where first jobs actually come from.

Be where the boats are

You cannot break into yachting from your bedr...

Continue Reading...
How to Get References for Your First Yacht Chef Job becoming a yacht chef getting started jobs q&a Jul 06, 2026

The classic catch-22: boats want references, but you need a boat to get references. Here's how to break the loop — because everyone in this industry, including me, started with zero yacht references.

Land references count more than you think

A written reference from a head chef or restaurant owner...

Continue Reading...
Is Becoming a Yacht Chef the Right Career Change for You? becoming a yacht chef career getting started q&a Jul 06, 2026

This is the question underneath all the others — so let's answer it properly. Not with a personality quiz, but with the honest questions I'd ask you over a coffee before you spent a cent on courses or flights.

Ask yourself these, honestly

Can you live in close confinement? Not "do you like people"...

Continue Reading...
How to Become a Yacht Chef With No Experience becoming a yacht chef getting started q&a Jul 06, 2026

First, the good news: this is the beauty of yachting — it can give almost anyone a chance to prove themselves. I've worked alongside brilliant yacht chefs who never set foot in culinary school. But let's be real about what "no experience" means and how you bridge the gap.

The truth up front

Nobody...

Continue Reading...
How Long Does It Take to Become a Yacht Chef? (And Can You Do It in 3 Weeks?) becoming a yacht chef getting started q&a Jul 06, 2026

Straight answer: it depends entirely on where you're starting from. Here are the honest timelines I've seen play out over 14 years in this industry.

If you're already a working chef

You're closer than you think. STCW Basic Training takes about a week, the ENG1 medical takes a morning, and a food s...

Continue Reading...