Ready for a new view in Hospitality

Normally 40 is getting a bit long in the tooth for starting a career in yachting ( although I was 38 so it can be done), but for where I see you headed I'd say it's perfect. It takes time to gain experience. Neal chef on a private or charter yacht; you have wide range of possibilities from stew to crew placement to.... Of course you'll need to get where the boats are. I'd suggest emailing some crew placement services and starting some conversations. With what you bring to the table I think you'll do well. Good luck.

Difficult to answer this one. You are excellent candidates for the right situation but finding it may be very difficult or even impossible. I'll just put some random points for consideration.

-Are you married? How long in the relationship? Some are hesitant to hire couples and others hesitant to hire unmarried couples.

-Why are you interested? Why not a restaurant in a resort area rather than a boat? Mid life crisis? What is your reason?

-There are two types of boats you could end up on, owner boats or charters. The captain of an owners boat may not be ready to take such a chance and you're neither one trained for the charter.

-Ultimately, he should be the chef on a yacht but has no experience in a yachting environment. On an owners boat, not too hard, but on a charter, you're talking all day food and preference sheets and different every night.

-Ultimately you should be a chief stew but right now you're not qualified for their stew. You need to take some courses. Are you prepared to be a housekeeper? Are you prepared to spend the day doing laundry? That's how you start. You might find on a larger boat the need for your trainer, yoga and massage skills.

-What price are the two of you willing to pay to build the opportunity, in time and in financial sacrifice.

-While a lot of owners are boating now, it's not so much long range cruising. The Charter business is nearly dead with the inability to travel to destinations.

-See, if I was looking, my wife and I are crazy enough to hire a couple like you, but that's what you need is crazy owners like us. The normal are going to be hesitant. If it's really something you want to do and your reasons are solid, then I'd go for it. Just know it will be challenging.

Actually private situation like Olderboater is what I see as their best move. He as family chef and she could fill all sorts of needs. Just make sure their boat moves and isn't a dock queen.

Bahamas busy but Caribbean not and Europe not and the Bahamas don't even make up for a decent part of their reduction. Just ask a crew agency about the crew availability situation right now. There are a lot holding out hope for a summer Mediterranean season. If it comes to pass that will be a tremendous boost.

But there are a lot of new millionaires and even a few new billionaires. That's why I suggest a family chef and ....for a boating family. They can cut their teeth in the yachting world and decide if they want the charter world when it comes back while they gain the relevant experience. I think a good question to ask of the OP is which coast? Btw, don't limit yourself to crew agencies. For a private situation you'll also want to contact headhunters. Just let them know that you're looking towards a yachting situation.

I would recommend some time in Fort Lauderdale. MPT is an excellent resource for education and advice but also you can circulate in the industry and meet some captains and others.

I think one thing to be made clear though is that chef on a boat and stew on a boat are not adventures. They are tough jobs. I equate it to the business travels I had in my career. Went a lot of great places, saw none. Now boating not quite as bad but still you get a day here and a day there and you're exhausted when they come if you're on a charter boat. On an owner's boat is far better and seems better suited to your backgrounds and desires, just requires a rather large boat and an owner open to uniqueness.

You didn't answer the marriage, length of relationship question and while not important to answer me, it will be important to potential jobs.

One other idea for you to consider is land job in South Florida that might lead to boat job. That could be private or public hospitality. Again, competitive and even more so due to lost tourism jobs during pandemic.

Also, be prepared to tell a potential employer the rest of the story of why making this drastic change. Honesty and transparency will get you far.

I've assumed you're both US citizens and that increases opportunities in South Florida as US flagged vessels can only hire US. I would delay the move to Ecuador or elsewhere until I got my career underway.

We don't need to feel more crazy just we already have a full crew of crazy people.

Thanks for answering the marriage, time question, just trying to make you aware of things that might influence one owner, but might not another. We have two sets of married crew members. Honestly, married crew is a positive to me as it's very difficult for full time yacht crew to establish relationships and most yachts don't want the crew hooking up like on Below Deck. One of our married sets were actually reluctant to approach each other romantically although both desired because they were professional. Then we encouraged them to pursue and figure things out.

Others will hopefully suggest crew agencies they've worked with. Luxyachts is the one we have direct and positive experience with.

I'd suggest perhaps 3 months in Fort Lauderdale. I would suggest calling MPT and discussing your situation with them.

Also, in budgeting, there are many crew houses here and they can be useful for short stays, afford the opportunity to meet people and have lots of information circulating. Often people talk about dock walking which can still be done if done in a discreet, non disturbing manner, but I suggest places you know captains may be such as eateries beside large shipyards or even on the property. I do not recommend as some do the bars captains might frequent, as I just don't think meeting people at bars is a good way to build a new business relationship.

Yes, you will feel boat locked just as you do landlocked, unless you really love boats. You'll want somewhere to relax and recover and that may be Ecuador or it may be to have a small home somewhere and then travel all over the world. I'd suggest reading Julie Perry's book (Kindle available) https://www.workonayacht.com/ The book is "The Insiders Guide to Becoming a Yacht Stewardess." It will give you some insight. I'd also add something. You can save a lot of money in being crew. Food and lodging paid. You can return to land with money in the bank and your pocket. Or......you can have nothing to show for it. There are those, especially those on charters, who get a day or three in a resort area between trips and spend it all partying during that time. Then you don't have the money to enjoy the things you planned. I'm sure you've seen it in Colorado where people surrounded by royalty, or at least a lot of wealth, thought they could live that way on normal wages.

As to chef, in addition to restaurants, there are many people in South Florida who use personal chefs and some do also have boats.

As to your tattoos, like society, yachting runs to all extremes. My wife and I are totally unaffected by them, but we're younger than many owners you'll face. Charter boats are especially hesitant because of the variety of guests. There are some who would require sleeves. Ultimately, it's like many prejudices, you just move on to someone else. Fortunately, those strongly opposed are diminishing.

Meghann, PM me.