The Best Things About A Yacht Chef Job

Welcome back to our “Best Things About…” series, where we talk about the unique benefits of working different yacht crew positions.

Today, we’re featuring the world of a yacht chef. While this job requires creativity and flexibility in an ever-changing environment, it’s also a great opportunity if you're a chef looking for a new exciting career direction.

If you love food and cooking but don't have any formal experience, you could also consider pursuing a culinary education with a yacht chef career in mind.

Read on and learn about the top 5 perks of being a superyacht chef.

1. You'll find work easily! 

Chefs are in high demand on yachts! Finding a qualified chef who can also work on yachts, is harder than it sounds.

So if you have strong culinary skills and you're willing to pack up and go traveling for a while  -- you can take your pick of yacht jobs.

In addition to finding work easily, you'll be well compensated for your experience and skills.
 

2. The Budget to Be Creative

Working as a yacht chef is an incredibly creative job. Unlike traditional restaurant jobs that would hold you to a set menu or a particular type of cuisine, yacht guests love to be surprised with a variety of menus throughout their trip.

This means you can take your creativity as far as you like, allowing for allergies or other preferences, of course. 

And along with this flexibility comes the money to support it. A large or nearly unlimited budget will mean you can find the absolute best ingredients to create the best menus possible.

Think about it! How many cooking jobs would give you that much creative freedom?

3. Responsibility

You’ll have a lot of responsibility managing your entire department.

This means you’re in charge of everything from menu creation to accounting, planning and food storage  It’s almost like owning a restaurant -- but you don’t have to pay the bills! 

You’ll be well-appreciated by the owners and guests. After all, the food is often what makes or breaks a person’s vacation experience, and superyachts are no exception.

The meals on a yacht are often the highlight of an owner's trip or charter. 

Also, the hardworking crew are grateful for the variety of excellent sustenance provided by their chef.

4. Options To Explore Ports

Pulling into port along the coast of Italy? What about the Greek isles? Or perhaps, you’re on a yacht traveling along the NW coast of the U.S. and Canada.

Wherever you travel, you’ll have the chance to search out the best ingredients from local markets.

From specialty cheese shops and bakeries in France to pasta shops in Italy, these local markets often have the best local food and you'll meet small suppliers who will share stories of their livelihood.

Although this doesn't happen every day, it's probably one of the best perks of a yacht chef job.

5. Creating an Experience

Food -- especially good food -- makes people happy.

Together with the stewards/esses who create the table settings and serve the meals, the chef can provide incredible dining experiences and lasting memories for the guests. 

Having this creative freedom can motivate a chef to continuously try new things, and reach even higher levels of excellence.

So whether it’s the guests on board or even your fellow crew members, you can help create a positive environment and experience. 

So -- are you ready?

As you’ve seen above, working as a chef isn’t an entry-level job on a yacht, but if you’ve got culinary training or the time and budget to pursue it, a yacht chef position might just be the one for you.

Thinking of a chef job on a superyacht but not sure if you're ready?  

Download: 5 Ways to Know if You Are Ready For A Job On A Superyacht