What is superyacht crew training?

It's the certificates, CV and job-search preparation that get you from zero experience to a signed contract: STCW safety training, an ENG1 medical, a yachting CV built to industry standard, and a targeted plan for where and when to look. We coach you through each step rather than just pointing you at a course provider.

What qualifications do I need to work on a superyacht?

You'll need your STCW (Basic Safety Training) and an ENG1 medical certificate. From there, extra courses like Powerboat Level 2 can be added depending on your target role.

How much does it cost to get started?

Most people spend roughly $3,000-$3,600 NZD on the essential training and medical, arranged through trusted providers we recommend.

Do I need experience to get my first job?

No experience is required. Plenty of crew start fresh, but it's competitive - the right preparation, CV and timing make the difference.

How long does it take to get a job after training?

Some land work in a few weeks, others take a few months. It depends on timing, location and how ready you are.

Entry-level roles typically start at $3,400-$4,000 USD per month, usually tax-free, plus tips - with food, accommodation and travel covered.

What does Maiden Voyage actually help with?

Personal, one-on-one guidance through every step of breaking into yachting: certifications, CV, job search strategy and ongoing support. We work for you, not the agencies.

View from a yacht tender through a glacier fjord

Honest Guidance · Industry-Backed · Student-Focused

Your first step on board.

Breaking into superyachting is the hardest part. We get you over that first hurdle — with coaching, an industry-standard CV and the unspoken rules that actually get you hired.

Not sure which role fits you? Take the 2-minute quiz.

100%

student success rate

Because we take on a limited number of students at a time — so everyone gets the support they need to get on board.

USD $3,400+

starting monthly salary

10,000+

yachts over 25m need crew

Weeks

from prepared to placed

Everything you need. Nothing you don't.

Skip the mistakes — learn the unspoken rules and get hired.

Going it alone

Spend thousands on the wrong training

Send generic CVs that never get read

Pick the wrong ports and waste a season

Get lost in YouTube and Reddit "advice"

With Maiden Voyage

Only the certifications that actually matter

A CV reviewed by real captains & recruiters

A targeted plan: right boats, right ports

Honest, one-on-one, up-to-date guidance

Our Story

Superyacht crew training that works for you — not the agencies.

Maiden Voyage is superyacht crew training and coaching for New Zealanders starting from zero experience. The first job is the hardest part — but once you've got it, you're away laughing. From personalised coaching and CV support to understanding what the job actually involves, we make sure you're prepared, informed and ready to impress. We're not recruiters or a training company: recruiters work for employers, we work for you.

Nick Jacobi, founder, in front of a glacier in Alaska

Meet the Founder

Hey there, I'm Nick.

Before yachting, I worked in recruitment and education — helping people take bold steps toward new careers. When I set my sights on the industry I had no experience and had never stepped foot on a superyacht. I learned what mattered, what didn't, and how to market myself to get noticed. It worked - taking me from a university degree in Dunedin to sailing around the world.

Onboard, I saw great people getting overlooked — doing the wrong training, dock walking in the wrong places. Then parents started asking if I could help their kids break in. That's when Maiden Voyage clicked. Today it's a small team and an industry advisory board, keeping everything we offer practical and real.

What We Stand For

Accessibility

Yachting can feel like a club you need an invite to. We hand you the map, decode the unwritten rules, and show you the way in — no contacts required.

Authenticity

No fluff, no sales pitch, no promises we can't keep. Just honest advice from people who've actually been there and done it.

Empowerment

You've already got more going for you than you think. Our job is to help you see it, back yourself, and walk up that passerelle with confidence.

Independence

We're not recruiters and we're not a training company. We don't earn a cut from either — which means the only person we're working for is you.

Our Signature 5-Phase Programme

From clueless to crew-ready.

A clear path from "where do I start?" to your first contract — and well beyond it.

Roles we support

Find your place on board.

Start here

Deckhand

Exterior, watersports, tenders

Start here

Steward / ess

Interior, service, guest care

Chef

Galley, provisioning, menus

Housekeeping / Spa

Cabins, laundry, wellness

Watersports / PT

Toys, fitness, instruction

Junior Engineer

Systems, maintenance, watch

Superyacht anchored beneath the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast

Swap the 9-to-5 for the open ocean

Most people only see these from the shore.

Imagine waking up to the Amalfi Coast, the Caribbean, the South Pacific — getting paid, tips on top, food and travel covered. This is the life waiting on the other side of your first contract.

Your success is our success

Out there, living it.

Freddie M, a former hospitality worker turned superyacht deckhand, dockside after sailing to Fiji

Featured Story

From hospo to the Pacific Ocean in six months.

"It never felt like a course or a programme — it felt like having someone in your corner who genuinely cared about where you ended up. Nick showed me I already had more to offer than I thought. Six months later I was a deckhand. I've sailed to Fiji. I'm 19."

Freddie M

Hospitality → Deckhand · sailed to Fiji · age 19

Read story

Antoni M, who went straight from high school into full-time superyacht crew work in Palma

Featured Story

From high school to the Med in three months.

"He wanted to make the most of his gap year — not the ordinary version of it. Three months later he's working on multi-million dollar yachts in the Med, watching the sun set over the Balearic Sea, living a life most people only dream about."

Antoni M

High school → full-time in Palma · age 19

Read story

"Maiden Voyage bridges the gap from outsider to insider — real insight into what yachts are looking for, and the connections to place you in great hands."

Josh M

Deckhand

"They didn't just tell me what I wanted to hear. The advice was honest and based on real experience — that's what helped me most."

Ivy T

Stewardess · Perth

"They made sure I had everything in place before I even booked my flight. I got my first job on a 51-metre yacht through the Philippines, Japan and Alaska."

Daniel P

Deckhand · South Africa

"Practical, no-nonsense support — CV development, interview prep and which certifications actually matter. It gave me the confidence to take the first step."

Bradley N

Deckhand

From the Blog

Tips, truths and the inside line.

Visit the blog

View over the stern railing across open blue water

Getting Started5 min read

ENG1 Medical NZ: Where to Get One & What to Expect

Read article

Getting Hired6 min read

Mediterranean vs Caribbean Yacht Season for New Crew

Read article

New Zealand school leaver weighing up a gap year on a superyacht instead of university

Getting Started5 min read

The Real Cost of a Gap Year vs a Degree (NZ Numbers)

Read article

Snow-capped fjord mountains seen from a superyacht’s deck

Life Onboard5 min read

I Turned Down University for a Superyacht — Here’s What Happened

Read article

Superyacht tender boat crossing calm fjord waters

Getting Started4 min read

9 Jobs You Didn’t Know You Could Get Straight Out of School

Read article

Bow of a superyacht curving through open water

Getting Started8 min read

How Much Do You Actually Earn on a Superyacht? (2026 Guide)

Read article

Crew cabin view of snow-capped mountains and fjord water

Getting Hired2 min read

Why Superyachts Love Hiring Kiwis (And Why You’re More Ready Than You Think)

Read article

Two crew members leaning on the bow rail, looking out at the horizon

Life Onboard2 min read

Sex and Relationships On Board: What You Need to Know

Read article

Superyacht side deck with a port city skyline in the background

Getting Hired3 min read

Top Tips for Landing Your First Yachting Job

Read article

Yacht deck and wheel looking out over open water

Getting Started7 min read

STCW & ENG1: The Only Two Certificates You Truly Need to Start

Read article

Superyacht bow moored at a city marina at dusk

Getting Hired8 min read

Dockwalking 101: How to Actually Find Work on the Docks

Read article

Feet up on deck at sunset after a day’s work

Life Onboard3 min read

What to Actually Pack for Your First Season

Read article

What You Need to Know

Questions, answered straight.

From the courses you need to how long it takes to land a job. Still not sure about something? Flick us a message — we're here to help.

Not sure which role suits you? Take the 2-minute quiz.

Let's make it happen — the smart way

Break away from the ordinary.

Every journey is different, so are the costs — book a free discovery call and we'll be honest about whether yachting is right for you, map your first steps, and talk through pricing.

One-on-one tailored support
Reviewed by captains & recruiters
Ongoing mentorship as you grow

We don't guarantee jobs — no ethical service can. But we give you every chance to succeed.

Lürssen superyacht with helicopter on deck, moored beside the town