Crew retention and longevity is an issue across the yachting industry, yet it is especially a challenge among crew who value their wellbeing over their financial goals, such as those with massage, beauty, and fitness expertise. These roles are often difficult to fill, and if you find a good person, you want to ensure you hold onto to them for as long as possible!
Let’s start with the low hanging fruit:
R & R
The best therapists don’t do well with just 40 to 60 days of leave. They want to have time to do extra training, to go on that yoga or meditation retreat, as well rest their bodies. Believe me, you want to employ therapists who value their self-care in this way – they make the best therapists! Consider trying to structure a way they can have at lease 90 days of leave, or extra (even unpaid) time off during yard periods or crossings. These can be times when crew with extra skills become dissatisfied, so it’s best not to have them on board anyway!
Money money money
This is a big topic. I’m still advertising roles for the same salary I was on myself as a Stew/masseuse in 2011, so, taking into account inflation, there has been a substantial salary decrease in the last 10 years for many yachts. Often the additional amount spa/stews are paid compared to other stews on board is nominal, yet they are entrusted with a very personal role with the clients. Ultimately, the best paid roles attract and retain the best talent, period.
If you’re still having issues (or if your owner isn’t persuaded to improve the package), consider these other ideas:
Give crew time to practise their skills
During quiet times, make sure to allow extra-skilled crew time during their working hours to offer their treatments to the rest of the team. This will keep them motivated, their skills fresh, and you’ll have a healthier and happier crew as a bonus.
Travel with the boss
If your boss loves the therapist, why not facilitate them travelling with them whilst they’re not using the yacht? Therapists usually love travel, novelty, and the kudos of being the boss’s personal therapist. Such variety would elevate the role for many employees (bearing in mind they are still given sufficient leave).
Allow for progression
Many spa therapists/stews either get stuck at junior levels (there aren’t so many yacht spa manager roles), choose to leave their skills behind if they decide to pursue a Second Stew or Chief Stew role, or leave the industry. Be open-minded and flexible enough to allow people to progress AND still practise their therapies from time to time, even if it means having a team of crew with extra skills.
Consider out-of-the-box solutions for wellness roles
Do you really need the therapist to be on board whilst you don’t have guests on? Do you really need them to do stew duties too? Could it be ultimately more cost-effective to get a freelancer on board instead? There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to superyachts. We work with both private and charter yachts who effectively use our spa and fitness freelancers instead of having permanent crew offer these skills, and often it’s more cost-effective and less of a headache for Captains.
What has worked well for you in retaining your best crew?
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