Become A Yacht Chef Blog
So you want to become a yacht chef. Good — it's one of the best decisions I ever made. I'm Dean Harrison, an Australian chef, and I've spent the last 14 years cooking for billionaires, celebrities and crew on some of the world's most luxurious superyachts, up to 88m. Yachting gave me freedom — finan...
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...
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"...
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...
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...
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...
I've literally got a job every single way possible — through an agent, word of mouth, a fellow yachtie, LinkedIn and even Instagram. You are now on show to the world more than ever before. Your social media is the new CV. Remember that.
Pictured ~ M/Y Arience in Nice Harbour, France. Not the busi...
Versatility, flexibility, composure, organisation and humility. These are the qualities that will make you a great yacht chef in this industry.
There are typically three types of people who become yacht chefs:
- The fully qualified chef who has completed an apprenticeship and worked in restaurant ...
