Stew Tips: Wellbeing Ahead of the Charter Season

As yacht steward/esses, we all know that a busy yacht charter season can take its toll on our physical and emotional health. With long work hours, stressful conditions and demanding guests, we sometimes forget that we also have to take care of ourselves and our precious health.

We have had some wonderful discussions on our Facebook group, Yacht Stewardess and Steward Tips and, for this column, I would like to share some tips on how to stay healthy on charter, even in small spaces as well as some healthy ‘between-guest' health rescue ideas.

As another busy Mediterranean season has just kicked off, I'm sure you'll find many of these suggestions soothing to your body and soul. Best of luck to all of you!

Planning for your own wellbeing

As many of you will agree, a busy season can really do a number on our health. Here are some suggestions for before, during and after your charter guests have left.

After all those long hours on your feet, nothing beats a good manicure and pedicure! If you're lucky enough to have a beauty therapist onboard, maybe you can convince them (with some financial encouragement) to treat you to a special mani/pedi. I once worked on a yacht that spent four months in the yard and our captain actually asked the beauty therapist to give every crew member either a massage, reflexology or manicures and pedicures. I guess he felt she had to keep up her skills, but nothing beats a good mani/pedi before and after the season.

Before the charter season starts: 

Schedule visits to the dentist, hair salon, check that all your bills are being paid (arrange debit orders, etc).

It's highly advisable to visit your gynaecologist, dermatologist, optometrist and GP at least once or twice a year and stock up on your medications and multi-vitamins.

Purchase your essentials – such as favourite make-up, beauty products and make-up brushes.

Download some audiobooks and make some playlists for yourself and for guests. 

Items to bring on board when joining a new yacht: 

Silk pillowcase, headphones, comfy sleepwear, body lotion (not a strong smell), nail clippers and nailcare items, good sunglasses, one workout outfit (if there is ever time), a bathing suit (that is work appropriate if invited on guest excursions), and an outfit to wear out to dinner with the boss or guests if invited.

Thank you for the music

Get your favourite Spotify playlists ready to go. Spotify is great because you can download playlists for when you have no internet service or WiFi. In Spotify, you can mark selected playlists and sync them to your computer or mobile device for offline listening. You only need to be online to sync the tracks in the first place.

A group member shared some of her favourite playlists with the group (search for Lauren Lubitz on Spotify):

• 2018 - upbeat songs from 2018

• Fam party - some classic party songs

• Good day underway - is my underway playlist full of beach/boating and some country songs

• Summer Party - a good party playlist for 20somethings

• Spring cleaning – playlists for detail cleaning days

• Summer cleaning - playlists for detail cleaning days

• Peaceful guitar - good background dinner music, but can be repetitive

• Happy day - upbeat chill family happy music

• Brunch - Sunday morning chill upbeat music

• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star - 68 songs for star gazing, all songs say something about stars, galaxy, etc.

• Wish upon a starfish - 77 songs about beach, lakes, boats, ocean, etc.

• Boca fiesta - Spanish songs for theme night or theme nights

• Chillin under the covers - chill cover songs, mostly acoustic

• Beach in Hawaii - reggae beach music

Take care of the small stuff

Another must-have to keep on board is a natural hand cream like Aesop ® from Australia as hands feel tired too - a necessity just before sleep on charter.

Cooling gel for legs and feet helps a lot after long hours on your feet! Prior to the season, order top-ups of all your precious creams, which might not be easy to find elsewhere.

It's a good idea to get all your hair removal done prior to a long season – waxing, laser treatments, etc. If you like permanent make-up, it saves a lot of time on charter if you have less make-up to worry about.

Invest in good earplugs, a sleeping mask, dry shampoo, make-up removal wet tissues, BB cream (short for 'blemish balm' cream – it is a versatile combination of products such as moisturizer, primer, SPF, foundation, skin treatment, and concealer). Look into products like Eltamd ® tinted sunscreen, many steward/esses swear by this product.

Stay connected

A busy charter season takes its toll, so be kind to yourself - rest when you can and stay connect with the people who make you happy - it takes five minutes a day to stay in touch with loved ones via Whatsapp or Skype.

A little extra help

Consider investing in a 24k gold collagen eye or facial mask. It's pricey, but it will make your face feel brand spanking new after just one use.

Personally I've also seen the benefits of a B-12 shot once or twice a year. However, it is important to discuss this with your health care professional, as different people react to this treatment in different ways, not always well.

If all else fails, for the first week on holiday just go wild and let your hair down!!

Chief Stews: Ideas for a 'welcome on board' gift for your team

If your yacht’s budget allows, it's always a great idea to buy your team a ‘welcome on board’ or pre-charter gift package. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but the gesture will lift their spirits and get them excited for the upcoming season.

Here are some handy ideas for gift packs:

• Dry shampoo

• Sephora ® face, eye and foot masks

• A deep moisturizing hand lotion

• Burt Bees ® make-up remover wipes

• Resistance bands – easy to use in small spaces like a bow or cabin

• Olly ® multivitamins

• Ear plugs, body scrub, facial cleansing sponges and wipes

• Night cream for eyes or face, eye cream, eye drops, mini hair sprays, mini hair gels, mouth wash, mints

• YSL ® brightening pen – one of my favourite must-have items on charter!

• Lip moisturizer protection, sunscreen

• Lucas’ ® PawPaw gel

• Hair ties, masks, Eucerin ® Aquaphor hand balm, hangover cure patches

• Foot spray and cream from Primark ®

• Hair oil shots and under-eye masks

• NatraCure ® 5-Toe Gel Moisturizing Socks – they help for dry feet, cracked heels, calluses, cuticles, rough skin and enhances your favourite lotions and creams whilst sleeping

• Hydrating face mist

• A foot massager

• Hair ties/bobby pins in the colour of their hair, as those go missing en masse

• Foot rollers/massage balls, hot pack for shoulders/back or for the dreaded tummy cramps

• Magic-away makeup remover

• Always keep stuff in the snack cupboard – it is always a nice surprise for the different nationalities on board if you have some of their home country’s snacks available during a busy charter season.

• Arnica sticks or Arnica drops - helps with the dreaded stew bruising and muscle aches

• Silicone Gel Socks that you wear at night time after rubbing a peppermint lotion on them

• Champagne split bottles or an expensive bottle of wine for after-charter celebration

• Compressions socks! A lifesaver when feet are swelling.

• CBD balm, very effective and doesn't smell like the traditional pain reliever (if available where your yacht is docked)

• Arbonne ® Prepwork Gel Eye masks are great for dark circles and puffy eyes

• Tiger Balm

• A nice organic pillow spray to help with peaceful sleep

• Wine and spa gift cards could be useful if you want to give something small and don’t want to cause clutter in the cabin

Before, during and after - time permitting! 

Another mani/pedi and a well-deserved massage!

If you are able to go home, take the clothes and items with you that you didn’t wear or need. If possible, try to take a mini-vacation.

Detox

Make time for a mini-detox or take a few days for a proper full detox or cleanse. A lymphatic drainage massage might also be a good idea (check with your medical professional if this would be suitable if you have any medical issues). MLD is a very light, delicate, and superficial technique - very different from classic massage, which also moves lymph, but affects muscles, veins, arteries which lie deeper. 

Disconnect

Something that I tried to do as often as possible, was to go totally off-radar and go somewhere far, far away from boats. Even checking into a hotel alone for a weekend with your favourite book or TV programme does wonders to energize your body and soul. 

For after-season holidays, if you're experienced in the art of yoga, book a yoga retreat, a diving holiday, or a wine tasting trip in France - anything that nourishes your soul and awakens your interest and energy levels, and may add to your steward/ess skill set!

Best of luck to all of you. Always remember to take care of yourselves. When we work in service, it's so easy to focus on everyone around us but don't forget about your own emotional and physical wellbeing!

Related articles:

Stew Tips on Going Green - Part 1
Crew Welfare at the Heart of Yachting 

First published by OnboardOnline on 15th January 2020. Last updated on 12th December 2020.