Yacht Interior Crew: Chief, 2nd and 3rd Stewardess Explained

The interior department is led by the Chief Stewardess (or Chief Steward), with the 2nd Stewardess and 3rd Stewardess ranked beneath. On a larger yacht the team may also include a 4th Stewardess, a Purser and specialists such as laundry or housekeeping crew. How the team is organised depends on the size of the yacht and how it is used.

“Stew” is short for Steward or Stewardess, so you will hear “2nd stew” and “3rd stew” used for the next two places in the team. This guide explains what each position usually involves.

How the work is shared

Often the interior team rotate through all the duties, i.e. service, housekeeping and laundry. Larger yachts, 75m and above for example, often have a dedicated housekeeping team who don’t get involved with guest-facing service.

Chief Stewardess or Chief Steward

The head of the interior leads the team, sets the standard of service and housekeeping and is the main contact for the Captain, the owner or charter guests and the other department heads. They plan the interior work, organise the rota and are usually the person who interviews and trains new interior crew. See hire a Chief Steward or Stewardess.

2nd Stewardess

The 2nd Stewardess is second in command of the interior and supports the Chief Stewardess, covering when the Chief is not on duty. In practice this usually includes a share of the service at table and the standard of the guest cabins, but the split of duties differs from yacht to yacht.

3rd Stewardess

The 3rd Stewardess is the next place in the team and is often the first full interior position for someone with some experience. Duties usually centre on housekeeping, guest service and keeping the interior clean and ready. A 4th Stewardess, where there is one, works at a more junior level still.

How people move up

Most people progress by moving up the team on one yacht or by taking a more senior position on the next. Time in the role, the references of your Chief Stewardess and Captain, and your service and housekeeping skills all matter. For where to start, see Steward and Stewardess and yacht jobs with no experience.

Training that is usually asked for is covered in training and certificates by role, and pay by position in the yacht crew salary guide. The Purser role, which sits alongside the interior team, is covered in what a yacht Purser does.

Hiring an interior team

Owners, Captains and yacht managers can read how we recruit for these roles at hire a Steward or Stewardess and hire a Chief Steward or Stewardess, or get in touch.