We sat down with Signe Christensen, a
Chief Stewardess on a 50m yacht for a Q&A, which is both an inspiring and truthful perception on the world of yachting. It will make you want to join in, climb the career ladder and never leave.
Signe,
I have been working on yachts for 6 years now. I started when I was 26 years old and my plans were to only do yachting for 6 months, but I soon realized that I loved my life at sea, so I stayed.
I started working in the Mediterranean for my first couple of years and then moved to a yacht in the US/Caribbean for several years. I always worked on the smaller sized yachts - around 30-35 metre, but this summer I decided to return to the Med and move up to the bigger sized yachts. I enjoyed being back in Europe this summer as I did a seasonal position on a 47 metre and have just accepted a Chief Stewardess position on a 50 metre that will go to the Maldives this winter.
1. I feel grateful to work onboard because…
The lifestyle is so different from any other I know, and we do live a privileged life.
2. Finish this sentence; ‘You know you’re a stewardess on a superyacht when…’
You consider toothpicks and ear buds some of the most important things in your cleaning cupboard.
3. The thing I enjoy most about my job is…
The travelling, and the freedom we have.
4. On a daily routine onboard I…
Use a hoover so often I am surprised it hasn’t grown attached to my hand! Dust is always the biggest enemy.
5. I don’t/do miss land jobs because…
I enjoy the freedom of not owning property or actually any more than can fit in to a suitcase... And I love waking up in new places all the time.
I do miss land jobs because you get to be close to friends, and often have a little more control of when you get to take time off, i.e. weddings, holidays, birthdays.
6. Yachting is tough, especially when…
Family and friends back home need you there...
7. I found making the transition from land based work to yachting…
Easy - I had already worked in the hospitality industry for years, and I had family already in yachting who had prepared me for the industry, both the good and the bad.
8. My favourite thing about working on yachts is…
The travelling - because before I joined yachting I had done very little travelling and now I get to go to some of the most beautiful places on the world, and get paid for it!
9. The thing I dislike most about my job is…
Being away from my family, because my brother has had two kids while I have been in yachting, and I really don't have much of a relationship with them.
10. The best and worst situation I have had with guests onboard was when…
We had a guest propose to his girlfriend on a charter and we all helped arrange it. The worst was a charter where the weather was so bad we couldn't leave the dock for the whole week, and then the family got a call that their dog had died.
11. Finish this sentence; ‘The sea is…’
My home. A life at sea is a life for me.
12. My favourite story from working onboard is…
A guest asking me if I could make a video of how I do my
toilet paper folds so he could learn.
13. My worst story from working onboard is…
Getting into a bad storm, the emergency hatch in my cabin breaking and everything I owned was ruined.
14. My favourite places that I have been on charter are…
The St Lawrence Seaway through Canada and the Great Lakes, it was such a different experience than any other place I have been in yachting.
15. In the Caribbean I feel lucky to have experienced many wonderful places and sights, such as…
St Kitts,
Antigua. Having a school of glow in the dark squid swim up the boat at night, the beautiful waters of the Exumas and the sea pigs there.
16. My favourite place to go on charter with guests is…
The Mediterranean is my favourite - especially the French coast. Cities are close together, so it is easy to take the guests somewhere new everyday. And provisioning is easy for the stews and chefs as the produce is so great.
17. Working as a stewardess makes me smile because…
In my opinion, it is the best job in the world. There is no other lifestyle that compares to yachting, I love hospitality and taking care of people, and I get to do that in amazing places while making good money, and meeting people from all over the world.
