A yacht crew is split into four departments: deck, engineering, interior and galley. Each department head reports to the captain. The captain is responsible for the vessel, the guests and everyone aboard. How many of those roles you actually meet depends on the yacht’s size. On a charter catamaran in the British Virgin Islands, a few people usually cover what a 50-meter yacht splits across a dozen. This guide explains each role, how crews scale, and how a galley is run, so you know what to expect before you book.
TL;DR
- Every yacht has deck, engineering, interior and galley departments, each led by someone who answers to the captain. Titles and headcount vary with the vessel.
- The captain commands. Deck crew handle lines, tenders and water toys. The chef feeds you. Interior crew look after your cabins and your service.
- Smaller yachts combine roles, so one person may cover several jobs. Larger yachts separate them.
- A well-run galley depends on preference sheets, planned provisioning and secure storage, all of which you can influence before you step aboard.
- If you are choosing between bareboat and crewed, the crew roles below show what you are paying for and what you take on yourself.
Table of Contents
- The four departments on a yacht
- Deck department
- Engineering department
- Interior department
- Galley department
- How crew size changes with the yacht
- What this means on a BVI charter
- How a yacht galley is organized
- Galley storage that works at sea
- Our perspective
- Find the right crew set-up for your trip
- FAQ
- Sources
The four departments on a yacht
Think of a yacht as a small hotel, restaurant and ship in one hull. The work divides cleanly:
- Deck runs the exterior, the lines, the tenders and the toys.
- Engineering keeps the machinery, power and water systems working.
- Interior handles housekeeping, laundry, service and guest care.
- Galley plans, provisions and cooks.
According to one crew-industry guide to ranks, each department has a head who reports to the captain, and the number of crew and the job titles depend on the size and type of the yacht. Not every yacht carries every rank. Treat any list of titles as a menu, not a rule.
Deck department
Captain
The captain is the highest-ranking crew member. Dockwalk’s crew hierarchy guide says the captain is responsible for the vessel, guests, crew, navigation, safety, regulatory compliance and overall operations. In practice that means the captain decides where you anchor, when weather changes the plan, and whether a given swim stop or sail is a good idea.
For you as a guest, the captain is the person who turns a wish list into a day that works. If you want a quiet snorkel before the crowds, or a mooring with a view for sunset, the captain is who makes it happen.
First mate or chief officer
The chief officer (called first mate on smaller boats) is the captain’s deputy and runs the deck day to day. On larger yachts the chief officer supervises the deck team and the safety routines. The same ranking list also names second and third officers on bigger vessels, who share watchkeeping and safety duties.
Bosun and deckhands
The bosun (short for boatswain) leads the deck crew. Deckhands handle the physical work: operating and maintaining the exterior, handling lines, tenders, docking and water toys. When someone helps you step from the tender to a beach, sets up the paddleboards or ties you to a mooring ball, that is deck crew.
Engineering department
The chief engineer is responsible for the propulsion, generators, air conditioning, watermaker and electrical systems. Bigger yachts add a second engineer and more. On a small yacht there may be no dedicated engineer at all: the captain may also perform engineering duties. Guests rarely see engineering work, but they feel it every time the air conditioning is cold and the showers are hot.
This is one reason fleet maintenance matters on any charter. A yacht can have an excellent crew, but the systems still have to be properly serviced between trips.
Interior department
The interior team is the part of the crew you talk to most. Typical ranks, taken from the ranks list, are:
- Chief steward or stewardess: leads the interior department and sets the standard of service.
- Second and third stewards or stewardesses: support the chief across cabins, service and laundry.
- Steward or stewardess (stew): the all-rounder who cleans, serves, turns down beds and looks after guest needs.
- Purser: handles administration, provisioning records and paperwork on larger yachts.
According to Dockwalk, interior crew manage housekeeping, laundry, food-and-beverage service, guest care and presentation. On a smaller charter yacht, one stew often does all of this, and may also help with deck duties during docking.
Galley department
Head chef
The head chef leads the galley and, according to one galley-department guide, handles menu planning, provisioning, inventory, food safety and galley budgeting. Larger yachts add a sous chef, and the ranks list also includes a crew chef or cook who feeds the crew rather than the guests.
On a crewed charter, the chef is often the person guests remember most. Menus start from what you tell them, which is why the preference sheet matters.
How crew size changes with the yacht
Crew size follows the yacht’s size, how it is used and the level of service. Dockwalk’s manning guide notes that private and commercial yachts can be staffed differently: it gives the example of five crew on a 40-meter private yacht versus eight to ten on a similar commercial charter yacht. One hiring guide puts a 50-meter yacht at 11 to 14 full-time crew, including a captain, chief officer, chief engineer, second engineer, chief stewardess and head chef, plus support staff. At the extreme, Power & Motoryacht reported in 2011 that the largest yachts can employ 70 or 80 people.
Here is how that scaling looks in practice:
| Yacht type | How roles are usually covered |
|---|---|
| Bareboat charter catamaran | No professional crew. You or a hired captain handle navigation, and your group does the cooking and cleaning. |
| Small crewed charter yacht | A small team where each person covers several roles: command and engineering, cooking, service and deck. |
| Mid-size motor yacht (around 40 m) | Separate captain, mates, engineer, chef, stews and deckhands. |
| Large yacht (50 m and up) | Full departments with chiefs, seconds and specialist roles. |
The first two rows are the general pattern, not a promise about any one boat. For the exact crew on a specific charter yacht, ask us and we will tell you who is aboard.
What this means on a BVI charter
The British Virgin Islands are a charter destination, and the crew question turns into a choice between three set-ups.
Bareboat: you charter the yacht without crew. If you do not hold the qualifications or experience to skipper, you can add a captain. Our published rate for a standard captain is $250 per day, and $300 per day for a training captain. Bareboat power catamarans on our pricing page run from £6,000 to £10,000 per week for a 3-cabin boat, £8,000 to £14,000 for 4 cabins, and £12,000 to £20,000 for 5+ cabins. You can read more about bareboat charter without a captain if you want to compare how the two options work.
Skippered: a captain handles navigation and safety while you and your group do the cooking and cleaning. It is the middle path for families who want to relax on deck without hiring a full crew.
Fully crewed: the captain, chef and interior and deck support are all aboard. Our crewed charter pricing is $25,000 to $35,000 per week for a Premium Catamaran (4 to 6 guests), $35,000 to $70,000 for a Luxury Catamaran (6 to 10 guests), and $70,000 to $120,000 for a High-End Luxury Catamaran or Motor Yacht. For a full breakdown of the service, see what’s included in a crewed charter and our crewed charter guide.
If you are still weighing the options, our crewed vs bareboat comparison lays them side by side.
How a yacht galley is organized
A good galley runs on planning that begins before the first meal. The standard order of work looks like this.
- Collect the preferences. On charter yachts, the broker’s preference sheet lists allergies, intolerances, favorite foods and meal expectations. The chef builds menus from it, so fill it in carefully, especially for anything medical such as a food allergy.
- Plan the menu. The head chef plans menus around guest preferences and dietary requirements.
- Provision. For a passage, one provisioning guide says to plan for the trip length plus a 30% contingency in case of delays or changed plans. In the BVI, where stores and anchorages are close, you will not be crossing an ocean, but the cushion logic still helps for a group that eats a lot.
- Prep ahead. A yacht chef prep guide describes prep as what keeps service flowing, chefs calm under pressure and guests happy.
- Track inventory. Inventory is tracked closely, and chefs often keep a “passage box” of long-life essentials as a safety net if fresh supplies run low.
If you are chartering bareboat, you are the galley department. Our pages on provisioning and where to begin with food provisioning walk through the process.
Dividing galley work on a bareboat
With no chef, the group is the crew. One practical suggestion from a provisioning guide is to rotate cooking in pairs and post the rota in the saloon, which prevents resentment. Decide before departure who shops, who cooks which night, and who cleans up, the same way a crew splits a watch.
Galley storage that works at sea
A boat moves, and storage has to allow for it. Three habits from the research are worth borrowing.
- Use dry lockers for dry goods. Non-refrigerated items like pasta and rice can live in saloon lockers or under cockpit seats, which frees refrigerator space for what actually needs it.
- Secure everything. Superyacht galleys are designed with marine latches on cupboards and fiddles, or raised edges, on shelves so supplies do not slide in transit. On a charter boat, the equivalent is to wedge items, use non-slip mats and keep heavy things low.
- Keep a reserve. A small box of long-life essentials, as above, covers you if the shopping plan slips.
Organize by meal rather than by item: breakfast in one locker, lunch supplies in another, drinks near the cockpit. People find things quickly and put them back, and the cook knows at a glance what is running low.
Our perspective
We have run charters out of Tortola, BVI since 1996, and the thing we see most often is that guests choose a crew level without knowing what each role does. Then they arrive surprised, either by how much they have to do themselves or by how much is done for them.
Our view is that the best charters happen when the crew fits the group. A family that wants to cook together and handle the boat has a great week on a bareboat catamaran. A group that wants the chef, the captain and a stew to take care of everything has a different, equally great week on a crewed yacht. We are family-owned and our fleet is curated for maintenance and comfort, so we can talk through which suits you without a sales script.
Tell us who is traveling, how everyone likes to eat, and how hands-on you want to be. We will match you with a yacht and a crew arrangement that suits it, and we will still be reachable once you are in the islands.
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Find the right crew set-up for your trip
If you want the captain and chef handled for you, start with our luxury crewed charters. If you prefer to run the boat yourself, or hire a captain for a few days, see our bareboat charter options. Our team can walk you through both.
Not sure which suits your group? Tell us your dates, group size and how involved you want to be, and we will recommend a yacht. You can also request our e-brochure to browse the fleet first.
FAQ
What are the different ranks in a yacht crew?
Common ranks include captain, chief officer or first mate, second and third officers on bigger yachts, chief engineer, bosun, deckhands, chief stewardess, stewards, purser, head chef, sous chef and crew cook. Not every yacht carries every rank, and titles differ by vessel. Smaller yachts combine roles.
Who is in charge on a yacht?
The captain. According to Dockwalk, the captain is responsible for the vessel, guests, crew, navigation, safety and regulatory compliance. Each department head, such as the chief engineer, chief stewardess or head chef, reports to the captain.
How many crew does a charter yacht have?
It depends on yacht size and service level. Crew numbers climb with size: one guide puts a 50-meter yacht at 11 to 14 full-time crew. Small charter catamarans use far smaller teams where each person covers several roles. Ask us about the exact crew on the yacht you are considering.
Who does the cooking on a yacht charter?
On a crewed charter, the chef does, working from your preference sheet. On a bareboat, your group does, or you can plan meals in advance with our provisioning guide.
Do I need to tell the crew about food allergies?
Yes, always, and before you board. The preference sheet is where allergies and intolerances are recorded, and the chef plans menus from it. For anything serious, confirm directly with your charter team as well.
Sources
- Yacht Crew Positions and Ranks Explained
- Yacht Crew Hierarchy: Roles and Responsibilities Explained, Dockwalk
- What Size Yacht Requires a Crew?, Dockwalk
- How To Staff A Yacht, Power & Motoryacht
- Yacht Crew Hiring: A 50m Yacht Needs 11 People
- Roles & Responsibilities of the Galley Department
- Galley provisioning guide (PDF)
- The Ultimate Yacht Chef Prep Guide, The Galley Gang
- Provisioning a Yacht for a Week, Boat Tomorrow
- How to Set Up a Superyacht Galley
Recommended
- What’s Included in a Crewed Charter
- A Definitive Guide to Luxury Crewed Yacht Charters
- Crewed vs Bareboat Charter | Which Yacht Option is Best?
- Couples’ BVI Charter: Who Steers, Who Cooks, Who Pays
Did You Know?
The BVI are only accessible by boat. Check out our charter yachts that can get you there. View Our Fleet
