What crew roles are on a charter yacht, and how many crew are there?
A small crewed charter yacht typically carries a captain and a chef who also handles service; as yachts grow past around 30 metres, the crew expands to include deckhands, one or more stewardesses for service and housekeeping, and an engineer, with the largest yachts carrying 10 or more crew including specialist water-sports and spa staff. As a rough guide, expect roughly one crew member for every one to two guests on larger yachts.
Key facts
- The captain is legally responsible for the yacht and sets the itinerary in consultation with you, adjusting for weather.
- On yachts under roughly 30 metres, the chef often also handles some service; larger yachts have a dedicated chief stewardess running service and interior.
- Deckhands handle lines, tenders, water toys and general exterior maintenance, and often double as water-sports instructors.
- As a rough industry guide, crew-to-guest ratio runs from around 1:2 on smaller yachts to 1:1 or better on large superyachts.
The core roles on every crewed yacht
The captain runs the yacht and is legally and operationally responsible for everyone aboard, plans the route with your input, and makes the final call on anything safety-related, including changing plans for weather. The chef plans and cooks every meal around your preferences, usually working from a preference sheet you complete before the charter.
On yachts with a dedicated stewardess or steward, this role covers cabin housekeeping, table service, drinks and the small day-to-day details — turning down cabins, laundry, remembering how you like your coffee — that define the 'crewed' experience.
How the crew grows with the yacht
Below roughly 25–30 metres, a lean crew of two to four (captain, chef, one or two all-rounders) is typical. Between 30 and 50 metres, expect a chief stewardess managing a small interior team, one or two deckhands, and often a dedicated engineer to maintain machinery and systems.
Above 50 metres, crew can run to ten or more, adding specialists — a sommelier, a masseuse, dive instructors, or dedicated water-sports crew for jet skis, wakeboarding and diving — reflecting the wider range of onboard experiences these yachts offer.
How this affects your experience
More crew generally means more personalised service and a faster response to requests, but even a small crew on a 25-metre yacht delivers full-service hospitality — cooked meals, cleaned cabins, planned days — you wouldn't get bareboat. The right crew size for you is really a question of how much staffing presence you want around you versus privacy.
Your broker matches crew style, not just size, to your group — a boisterous group of friends and a quiet honeymoon couple are often better served by different crews even on similarly sized yachts, which is part of what a good broker actually curates.
Common questions
Do I need to tip every crew member individually?
No — the customary gratuity (typically 5–15% of the charter fee) is normally given as one amount to the captain, who divides it fairly among the whole crew according to their own system.
Can I request a specific crew member I've chartered with before?
Often yes, if that crew member is still aboard the same yacht or has moved to another yacht your broker can access — mention it when enquiring and your broker will try to accommodate it.
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