Carli Nel

As the second stewardess onboard a dual-season private yacht, I held a permanent position within an interior team of three. My role involved rotating through service, housekeeping, and laundry for lovely American owners who preferred mostly American-style service with lots of wine and margaritas. Stepping up into a more senior position has been very fulfilling, as I feel I have a lot to offer. During my last two months on board, I was acting Chief Stew while the boat was being sold. I also facilitated the handover process for two weeks with the next crew. The lesson I learned onboard was that this was my first time truly experiencing what it means to be part of a great crew that felt like family. Teamwork is everything, and this is definitely something I seek to achieve again.

I held a contract position on a private M/Y with an interior team of six. The itinerary was spent in the Mediterranean and included a three-month boss trip. My responsibilities included rotating through service, housekeeping, and laundry duties for UK owners who preferred silver service. This was a very busy program with long hours, busy guests, and lots to be learned. My biggest lesson onboard was what high standards mean and how to manage my time to meet those standards. I was fortunate enough to be taught by a chief stew that has been in the industry for 28 years.