If you’re new to yachting, chances are you’re doing some combination of the following:
- refreshing your emails every 12 seconds
- replying to WhatsApps at lightning speed
- convincing yourself that any job is a good job
- ignoring the tiny voice in your head saying “hmmm… this feels a bit weird”
Totally normal.
We’ve all been there.
This post breaks down the biggest superyacht job red flags I’ve seen over the years, especially for junior crew who are new to the industry.
The problem is, when you’re desperate to get your foot in the door, you’ll tolerate things you absolutely wouldn’t accept later – not because you’re silly, but because you don’t yet know what’s normal… and what’s quietly outrageous.
So consider this your big sister chat. The one where I gently but firmly say:
“Please don’t walk into nonsense just because you don’t know what questions to ask yet.”
🚩 Superyacht Job Red Flags Every Junior Crew Should Know
Here are the red flags you need to be aware of.
#1. Dodgy job ads & suspicious emails (France, I’m looking at you)
If you’re illegally dock-walking and applying for jobs online from that country, check the email address you’re replying to.
If it ends in .gov, that’s not a yacht, a captain, or a management company. That’s local authorities posting fake job ads to catch people working illegally.
People genuinely get deported over this.
Two seconds of checking who you’re replying to can save you a very expensive headache.
#2. “We don’t pay for flights”
There are two versions of this conversation:
- “You pay upfront and we reimburse you”
Not amazing, but it does happen on smaller boats. - “You need to get yourself here and we won’t reimburse you”
Absolutely not.
Under standard contracts, the boat is responsible for getting you to and from the vessel. If they won’t cover flights, ask yourself why.
If they’re being tight with flights – the literal basics – imagine how tight they’ll be with everything else.
#3. Being offered a job without an interview
If someone offers you a job without:
- a proper interview
- a phone or video call
- asking you anything meaningful
…pause.
Why are they hiring someone they haven’t spoken to?
Why is there no process?
Why is this being rushed?
Good boats don’t hire like this. Desperate boats do.
#4. Vague contact and “we’ll explain later” energy
Pay attention to how a job reaches you.
If you’re being contacted via:
- a random personal WhatsApp number
- no email signature
- no boat name
- no location
- no clear details
…and every question is met with “we’ll explain when you arrive” – no thank you.
Yes, some boats are confidential and will ask you to sign an NDA first. That’s fine.
But if there’s no NDA and they still won’t tell you:
- where the boat is
- the boat name
- who’s collecting you from the airport
- where you’re flying to
do not get on that plane.
You should always know where you’re going and who you’re meeting.
Always.
#5. Scams & oversharing your personal information
This one makes me nervous for juniors.
Please, please stop posting your full CV publicly in Facebook groups. I know you’re keen, but that document contains:
- your phone number
- your email
- your nationality
- your photo
- your date of birth
- your references contact details
From there, scammers can easily message you pretending to have a job and ask for:
- passport copies
- certificates
- personal details
Especially if you’re applying to a job you saw on Facebook, check the person’s profile, check their photo, check their email, do they look real to you, or does it look like a fake account someone set up yesterday?
Until you are 100% sure you’re speaking to a real boat or legitimate contact:
- do not send your passport
- do not send certificates
- do not send documents
Yes, once a job is confirmed as a real job, paperwork is normal.
Before that?
Protect yourself.
This is also why it really matters how your CV is written and where you share it. Most junior CVs aren’t bad – they’re just vague, generic, and easy to skim past. If you want a clear structure and real examples to help you explain your experience properly, I’ve put together a Superyacht CV Guide + editable Canva CV templates that walk you through exactly what to include (and what to leave out).
#6. “Don’t worry, we’ll sort it later” contracts
Read. Your. Contract.
Check:
- salary
- when you’re paid
- probation period
- any promised pay increases
- flights
- medical cover
- leave
If someone says “your pay will go up after probation” but it’s not written down – it doesn’t exist.
Not because they’re evil, but because memories get selective when money’s involved.
If you’re unsure, get someone to read it with you. Never sign something you don’t fully understand.
As a general guide, it can be helpful to look at what the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) says a seafarer employment agreement should include. (Scroll down to Annex 1 “Information to be included in a seafarer employment agreement”).
While the MLC doesn’t technically apply to pleasure vessels, it sets out a clear benchmark for what a professional contract looks like – things like pay, notice periods, medical cover, repatriation, and terms of employment being clearly written down. If your contract feels vague or is missing basics, that’s worth paying attention to.
#7. No medical cover (or very vague answers)
Your contract should clearly state what medical insurance you have and what it covers.
If the response is vague, dismissive, or confusing – that’s information.
You don’t want to discover the limits of your medical cover mid-injury.
#8. High crew turnover
Ask why the last person left.
If they’ve gone through multiple people in the same position in a short amount of time, that’s not bad luck. That’s a pattern.
#9. Unpaid day work or shockingly low salaries
Salaries are always a bit of a touchy subject, as salaries haven’t really changed in over 10 years. So yes, junior salaries are lower.
That’s normal.
But:
- unpaid work
- or salaries under $2,000
are not okay.
Most people say don’t accept a salary under 2500 euros, which, to be fair, they’re absolutely right.
HOWEVER, I personally started on $2100 USD myself (in 2014), and that increased to $2300 after my probation, which is super low, but the boat turned out to be incredible, and it ended up being one of my favourite jobs ever.
So salary isn’t everything, you just need to use your judgement on that + the vibe you’re getting from the boat and make a decision.
Just don’t accept something outrageous because you feel rushed or pressured.
#10. Inappropriate behaviour from the captain
If a captain is flirty, creepy, or crossing boundaries before you’ve even joined – believe that behaviour.
It does not magically improve once you’re onboard.
Hard no.
#11. Cabin arrangements you’re not comfortable with
Always ask who you’ll be sharing a cabin with.
You don’t want to turn up thinking you’ll be in a same sex cabin (as you should be), and find out that you’re sharing with some creepy 50-year-old man.
Ask. And if the answer makes you uncomfortable, don’t accept the job.
You’re not being dramatic – you’re being sensible.
You’ll be living there.
#12. Bad vibes during trials or day work
If during a trial you notice:
- eye-rolling
- snapping instead of teaching
- people being rude or dismissive
Believe it.
Boats start as they mean to go on.
Okay… so what does a good yacht job actually look like?
Let’s balance this out, because good boats absolutely exist.
🌱 Green flags to look for
- Clear communication from the start
No secrecy. No weirdness. Just facts. - A proper interview process
They take time, ask questions, and actually want to know you. - They answer your questions without attitude
Greenest flag of all. - Training is mentioned early
Good boats expect juniors to learn and support that. - Flights, contracts, and medical cover are handled professionally
Calm. Organised. Normal. - Low crew turnover
People stay because they’re treated well. - You feel calm, not panicked
This one matters more than you think. Good jobs don’t make you feel sick with anxiety before you even arrive.
A good yacht job doesn’t feel secretive or stressful.
It feels clear, professional, and safe.
To Wrap This Up
When you’re new to yachting, you don’t know what to ask – because you don’t yet know what’s normal.
Red flags don’t mean you’re not cut out for this industry. They just mean you’re learning.
Walking away from the wrong job early isn’t failure.
It’s self-respect.
If this was useful, feel free to save it or send it to someone who’s new to the world of yachting and trying to work out what’s normal.
I’ve got more posts like this over in the Superyacht Life section of the blog if you want to keep reading.
You deserve a good boat. 💓
