María Florencia Mainet, chief steward on a luxury yacht: “The pay is very attractive”

María Florencia Mainet, a chief steward on luxury yachts, has told an interview in the Spanish media how she walked away from a stable office job and steady paycheck to pursue a life at sea.

“I could see pretty clearly what my future would look like if I stayed there... and it wasn’t the life I wanted for myself,” Mainet told Infobae.

“Far more exciting to chase a dream”

Mainet, who holds a degree in tourism and has always been passionate about travel, says the daily routine eventually wore her down: “I didn’t like it. Neither my job nor the life that job offered me.” That realization led her to leave everything behind and enter the luxury yachting industry.

“I didn’t want to stay stuck in a boring routine with no challenges and no growth. For me, it was far more exciting to chase a dream,” she said.

Working in the yachting industry transformed her life and also inspired her to encourage others to take chances and pursue a different path: “These days, I’m willing to take more risks because I’m much less afraid than I used to be. What I did gave me a level of confidence that few things in life can.”

Life on the crew of a luxury yacht

“As a crew member, no two days on board are the same,” Mainet continued. “It all depends on whether there are guests aboard or not.” She explained that when passengers are on board, the workload becomes much more intense. In her current role as chief steward, she is responsible for coordinating meals, beverages, activities, and anything else guests may need during their stay.

When there are no guests on board, the crew focuses on cleaning, organizing supplies, and preparing the yacht for its next charter or voyage.

According to Mainet, the job demands “attention to detail, discretion, organization, and a strong service-oriented mindset”.

The role also requires a great deal of energy. “We’re constantly going up and down stairs. It’s physically demanding, but it keeps you in shape.”

Mainet added: “The pay is very attractive. Entry-level stewards with no prior experience earn around €2,500 ($2,900) per month, while chefs and engineers can make more than €6,000 ($6,900) a month. On top of that, food, medical insurance, accommodation, and flights are all covered.”

Breaking into the industry also requires meeting several key qualifications. Previous hospitality experience and proficiency in English are highly valued. Training courses in housekeeping and silver service are recommended for stewards, while deckhands are encouraged to obtain tender-driving certifications and Powerboat Level 2 qualifications.

Other requirements include holding a valid passport, a maritime medical certificate, and a basic safety training certificate, as well as being between 18 and 45 years old. Mainet warns that one of the most common mistakes candidates make involves their résumé, which “has to be specifically tailored for the yachting industry because it’s your calling card.”

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