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Explore Yacht Captain Jobs on Private & Charter Yachts
Are you a licensed yacht captain, retired naval or Coast Guard personnel, experienced sailor, mariner, or first officer looking for a yacht captain position? Meridian connects you with exceptional yacht captain jobs and opportunities worldwide. From private yacht captain jobs to charter captain opportunities, Meridian provides many job opportunities to transition to a new career path quickly. Captains hold the highest-ranking role aboard yachts and superyachts. This role requires considerable leadership qualities and qualifications to oversee onboard operations, ensuring safety and coordination of the entire crew. Meridian is the yachting industry’s leading job board, quickly connecting you to available captain positions on some of the most desirable yachts in the world.
Latest Yacht Captain Job Openings
Browse our latest yacht captain vacancies including motor and sailing yachts of all sizes. We post hundreds of positions annually, from yacht owners, captains, HoDs, individual yachts, superyachts, megayachts, gigayachts, management companies and recruitment agencies. Search our job portal using filters like Position or Region. Ready to apply? Whether you are in Europe, the USA, or elsewhere, let Meridian help you find your next dream job fast.
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Frequently Asked Questions
You will need the following qualifications to secure a yacht captain role: STCW, ENG1, and one of many various licenses, including Yachtmaster, Master 200gt, 500gt, or 3000gt license, which is based on the size of the vessel.
The salary of a yacht captain varies based on factors like experience and yacht size. However, salaries typically range from $6,000 to $20,000 per month.
To qualify for the captain's license, you usually need several years of experience in other yacht positions like First Mate or Officer, plus logged sea time. However, if you are just getting started with limited seat time, think about earning your OUPV (Six Pack) captain's license, where you can take up to six paying passengers, up to 100 miles offshore, on a vessel up to 100 GRT.
All yachts and superyachts, whether private, charter, or sailing, need a professional captain.
Yes, you can become a captain without military or naval experience. Most yacht captains do not have military or naval experience. While these experiences are an advantage, they’re not required.
You can find yacht captain vacancies on credible job platforms like Meridian.
Captain contracts vary depending on the yacht. They can be seasonal (ranging from 3 to 7 months in length), permanent, or even permanent with a rotational schedule with another captain.
It depends on the job platform or recruiter's requirements, but you must generally upload your updated CV, licenses, qualifications, work history, references, and a valid medical certificate.
It often includes crew leadership, guest management, yacht management, voyage planning, and ensuring the vessel's safety.
Yes, there is a difference. Charter captains manage guest changeovers and charters, typically ranging from eight to twelve charters per year. Private captains serve only the yacht owner and their guests.
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How Our Platform Works
Join for free in under two minutes. Instantly get discovered by hundreds of employers hiring yacht crew, receive job alerts tailored to you, and apply for opportunities around the world.
1Join for Free
Upload your CV to create your account. If you'd like, you can also add qualifications and references.
2Be Found
Employers can find and contact you directly using keyword search, just like Google.
3One Click Apply
Apply through our job alert emails or directly from our website.
What Does a Yacht Captain Do?
The captain's primary responsibility is overseeing all yacht operations, including navigation, crew management, guest experiences, strict safety compliance, and engineering oversight. Whether captaining a yacht on open seas or inland waterways, common sense and strong leadership are essential.
Required Certifications
You will need the following certifications to secure motor or sailing yacht captain jobs:
- STCW basic training
- ENG1 Medical
- Yachtmaster, Master 200gt, 500gt, or 300gt licenses, depending on the size of the vessel
Experience Needed
You must have logged extensive sea time and held prior officer roles to operate as a captain. You must demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities and operational excellence on yachts ranging from 24 meters to over 100 meters in length.
Who Should Apply?
Are you planning to apply for a yacht captain role but unsure if you have the ideal profile? Here are the qualities that qualify you to apply for a yacht captain career:
- You must be a licensed yacht captain with leadership experience.
- You must be an officer stepping into command roles.
- You must have had a crew with expertise on vessels 24 m to 50 m+.
- You must be professional, have excellent guest relations, and have a safety record.
Whether you're seeking private or charter yacht captain opportunities, Meridian has many open positions that may be right for you. Begin your journey with Meridian today.
Why Use Meridian for Your Yacht Career?
Meridian has helped thousands of yacht owners, management companies, and recruiters find exceptional captains and crew for amazing yacht vacancies since Crew4Yachts was founded in 2006, continuing after its acquisition in 2020.
Beyond this, here are other reasons why you should use Meridian to jump-start your yacht career:
- Fast hiring cycle: It takes less than 2 minutes to upload your CV so that hiring yacht owners, captains, and recruiters can search our platform to find, contact, shortlist, and hire you.
- Trusted by captains and recruiters globally: We have been in the game since 2006, constantly connecting owners and recruiters with competent captains.
- Easy-to-use yacht crew database: Our platform is user-friendly, making it the best choice for owners, captains, and recruiters.
- Meridian grows with you: Today, you may be looking for work; tomorrow, you may be looking for crew. Within your account, you can easily switch from crew to employer.
Posting job vacancies or searching our platform for experienced crew takes just a few minutes.
Best Practices for Applying to Yacht Captain Jobs
Landing a yacht captain job requires more than seatime experience. You need an exceptional CV that will make you stand out from others and give you a competitive edge. Here is a simple way to make your CV stand out:
Start With a Compelling Summary
Begin your CV with a compelling summary that confidently states your professional experience. Your summary should include the following:
- Years of experience
- Yacht size and type
- Key skills (navigation, safety, leadership, etc.)
- Certificates and licenses (e.g., STCW, RYA/MCA)
Detail Your Vessel Experience
List out all the vessels you have captained or crewed on. The list should include the following:
- Motor yachts, sailing yachts, catamarans, superyachts
- Vessel size and flag
- Whether it was private, commercial, or charter
Present Strong Leadership and Problem-Solving Skills
Talk about your experience recruiting and working with other crew members as a captain. Highlight the following information:
- Emergency response situations
- Mechanical failures at sea
- Crew conflicts or last-minute itinerary changes.
Highlight Crew Management Skills
Talk about your experience recruiting and working with other crew members as a captain. Highlight the following information:
- The types of crews you have recruited (officers, engineers, stewards, chefs)
- Team size, structure, and culture
- Your leadership or training style
Include Ports and Destinations
Include a section about the ports and destinations you have sailed to in your CV. It's an important feature of your CV that highlights your global experience in and around popular yachting hot spots.
Add a Professional Photo
Use a clear headshot with no dogs, other people, or distractions. It builds trust and gives owners and recruiters a sense of your personality and professionalism. With Meridian, you can even add an introduction video. If you're ready to take the next step in your career as a yacht captain, there's no better time to start. With new opportunities posted regularly and a platform designed to work for you, Meridian helps simplify and direct the process. Set up your profile, explore openings, and see where your skills can take you.