Yacht crew housing and accommodation in the superyacht industry

If you’re a first-time yachtie looking for accommodation during your job search or a more experienced yachtie heading shore-side for training or leave, you’re in the right place to find out more about your crew housing options.

Crew accommodation typically comes in a few forms. These include hotels, hostels and private rentals. However, most crew typically head to 'crew houses' near the ports and marinas of the world’s yachting hubs and hiring ports.

Yacht crew accommodation options

Whichever port you head to, you’ll need a place to stay while you’re looking for a job, training up, or waiting for visas and qualifications. There are different options available, allowing you to weigh up which is the most suitable for you and your needs. 

1. Crew houses

A crew house is a privately owned facility that offers clean, budget accommodation specifically for yacht crew. These are typically owned and run by fellow yachties or former crew members, and offer reasonably priced accommodation in prime hubs and hiring locations around the world. 

Crew houses work similarly to hostels in that there is no lease to sign; you don’t pay a deposit, and they are equipped for basic living during your stay. You may be put in a room with one or two others. The facilities are generally welcoming, economical, and placed close to local ports and marinas. Crew houses are known as so due to their connections to the yachting industry. As such, staying in one often offers ample opportunity to make new friends and network with like-minded individuals, and residents may be the first to hear about the available yacht jobs and day work. 

Most crew houses charge rates on a weekly basis. Depending on the time of the year and quality of accommodation, you can expect to pay around €20 to €60 per night. Some may also post your CV on their website and/or social media pages.

2. Rental houses and apartments

Another option is to find a private apartment or house share. These can be found online or arranged through local agents. You could also ‘buddy up’ with other crew members that you've met on your journey. This gives you that little extra comfort and personal space away from the busy nature of a crew house.

Shared accommodation, depending on the location and quality, can be cheaper than crew houses. However, contracts may be longer and harder to get out of on short notice, should you get a job with an immediate start.

You’ll want to make sure your accommodation has Wi-Fi for online job searching and keeping in touch with friends and family.

When renting private accommodation or moving into a shared house, there are a number of important factors to bear in mind:

• Ensure you personally check the apartment for damage before moving in; make sure you sign a contract and fill out an inventory. It sounds simple, but sometimes you might not be offered a contract, but you’ll need to have one to ensure your legal security. You should also confirm what is going to happen with the deposit/bond after the rental period, before signing anything.

• When paying, international bank transfers can often take more than three days, while cards work faster (within 24 hours). Always ask for a receipt if you are paying in cash.

• All communication in shared housing is best done through one tenant and one agent. This will avoid confusion, duplicate information, and contradictory requests. Make sure all communication is followed up with a letter or email; this simple action can avoid any possible problems in the future. 

• When you find that something doesn’t work or gets broken, make sure you tell your agent straight away. 

• If you plan to renew the contract, tell your agent as quickly as possible. If you don’t, you risk losing the apartment.

• You always have the right to your deposit back. If the agent says that the deposit won’t be returned, an explanation as to why must be provided. This should be supported by evidence. 

Agents can help with simple matters, such as where to shop and eat, the closest place to leave the rubbish, parking areas, or any important matters that arise. It’s a good idea to stay in contact with your rental agent throughout your stay, as they have a duty to help you and meet your requests.

3. Guest houses, hostels and hotels

Other accommodation options include guest houses, hostels, and hotels. These are often utilised if you cannot afford crew houses, or they are full. These represent good short-term housing options, as you can stay for just one or two nights. Hotels in particular can offer convenient, central locations, but they can be very expensive. 

Frequently asked crew housing and accommodation questions answered

Is the quality of crew accommodation important?

Though paying more for accommodation has its benefits, the quality of your temporary accommodation may not be as important as you first think. If you’re active in your job search, you will be too busy contacting crew agents, networking, dockwalking, and exploring opportunities to worry about the aesthetics of your room.

How long will I need accommodation for?

It’s impossible to be exact with an answer to this question because it will differ from person to person. Those with little-to-no experience in the yachting industry could find it takes a minimum of four to six weeks to find permanent work on board a superyacht, however.

Some lucky crew members may get snapped up quickly, while others may get the opportunity of a few days of day work during this period. Day work can pay anywhere from €12 to €15 per hour or approximately €100 per day.

When should I book my accommodation?

When the yachting season starts in your hiring port, the local crew houses and hostels can get incredibly busy. With this in mind, it’s sensible to make your enquiries early and get booked in. Ideally you will do this a few months before the season starts, even if you won’t be arriving straight away.

Logically you might think that by arriving earlier you will beat the rush, but you may well be wasting money on accommodation if there aren’t many yachts around.This is definitely worth considering.

Where shall I look for crew accommodation?

When searching for a yacht job, there are a few recommended ‘hiring ports’ where entry-level jobs are thought to be easier to come by. These include Antibes, Palma de Mallorca, Fort Lauderdale, and Newport. Learn how to choose the right hiring port for your yacht-job search.

As most of your efforts are likely to be focused around the ports, marinas, shipyards, and crew agents of your chosen city, it will certainly benefit you to find accommodation that’s nearby. It’s no surprise, therefore, that it’s here that you’ll likely find the yacht crew houses and rental agents that can assist in getting your accommodation sorted. 

Crew accommodation in Antibes

There are many crew houses in Antibes, but there are also a lot of yachties looking for work, making it difficult to secure a space. If you can’t find accommodation in Antibes, nearby Juan Les Pins or Biot are only a short train, bus, or bicycle ride away. 

Discover our recommended crew houses in Antibes.

Crew accommodation in Palma de Mallorca

Packed full of crew houses, hotels, hostels, and apartments, and always busy with visiting yachts, Palma de Mallorca is another great base for your Mediterranean yacht-job search. 

Discover crew-housing recommendations in Palma de Mallorca.

Crew accommodation in the US

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Newport, Rhode Island are thought to be the best US hiring ports for newer crew. Superyachts, known locally as mega yachts, typically come to Florida for repairs, maintenance, and crewing once they have returned from trips to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and further up the east coast. They often depart in early winter and early spring, so finding crew accommodation is harder at these times.

Newport is a popular hiring location, particularly for sailboats and race crew. In this region, you’ll find lots of yachting activity across the six states of New England, all the way down to New York and the islands nearby.

Find recommended accommodation in Fort Lauderdale and crew housing in Newport.

Crew accommodation in Australia

Some aspiring or experienced crew members might choose to travel to Australia to find work. This might be because they have been tipped off given the burgeoning nature of the superyacht industry Down Under, or simply to spend some time in the country before seeking employment.

A range of crew houses exist across Sydney, Queensland, and Byron Bay, so if you are planning to travel to these locations you should be able to find a suitable option. Other types of crew accommodation might be less prevalent, so it’s worth planning properly in advance before booking your flights.

Find recommended crew housing in Australia.

We hope this complete guide to crew accommodation has been useful and given you all the knowledge you need to find crew housing in your chosen location.

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Browse our crew housing and accommodation guides, or find yacht crew houses and accommodation in your location.