Let’s be real: one of the absolute best parts of working in yachting (aside from the sunsets and scandal) is the crew. Not just the fact that they exist, but who they are. South Africans, Kiwis, Croatians, Brits, Brazilians, Filipinos, Italians, Namibians, Aussies, Canadians, Frenchies, Spanish, Italians, Latvians, Croatians…. and every wonderful combo in between. It’s like a floating United Nations - only with more sarcasm, tighter quarters, and significantly more garlic.

On a single yacht, you might have a Greek chef, a Kiwi bosun, a Scottish engineer who sounds perpetually furious but is actually lovely, and a second stew from Colombia who knows exactly when you need a hug - or a tequila.

And here’s the thing: this global crew jambalaya mishmash? It’s not just good for morale - it’s magic.

Yachts are where worldviews collide (sometimes literally in the galley).

We’re talking:
🌍10 different accents in one crew mess
🥢Clashing customs, surprising similarities, and frequent lessons in what not to joke about
🍛 A beautiful, messy blend of food, faith, family stories, and filthy slang you’d never find in a textbook

Yes, it can be challenging. Misunderstandings happen. But so does magic.
Because when it works, it really works.

Forget love - it’s food that brings people together. And nowhere is that more obvious than on a yacht galley theme night.

From Filipino lumpia to Indian curry nights, paella masterclasses, and South African braais that become unofficial national holidays, food is where crew culture comes alive.

Chefs take note: crew remember themed dinners longer than they remember the guest preference sheet. Feed their souls, not just their shift.

Nothing bonds a crew like a proper knees-up in honour of someone’s heritage:
🎆 Diwali with fairy lights and Indian sweets
🐉 Chinese New Year with dumplings and dragon vibes
🎉 Eid, Hanukkah, Bastille Day, Australia Day, Carnival, St George’s… bring it all on

Even small gestures, like letting someone decorate a space or whip up a dish from home, create respect, pride, and a little joy in the middle of charter chaos.

Formal language courses? Nah. Real yacht crew learn swear words first, courtesy phrases second, and by season’s end can curse fluently in three languages.

It’s part of the fun:
🗣️ Teaching your roommate how to order a beer in Afrikaans
🪃 Swapping slang between the Brits and Aussies (it never ends well)
🤦‍♀️ Learning that “mooi” doesn’t mean what you think it means

“One of our chefs did a proper Sri Lankan curry one night. Spicy, beautiful chaos. Everyone sweated. Everyone smiled.” -  Stewardess, 28

“My Filipino cabin mate made pancit for my birthday. Said nothing, just handed it to me. I nearly cried into the noodles.” -  Engineer, 25

Here’s what multicultural crews really bring to the table:

1. Broader Perspectives
You’ll learn more over coffee with your crewmate from Durban than you will on any travel blog.

2. Better Problem Solving
Different brains = better fixes. The Kiwi ties the line differently, the Croatian sees the fault in the system, the Indian engineer finds a workaround. Boom - dream team.

3. Real Personal Growth
Can’t pronounce a name? Ask. Don’t understand a festival? Join in. Disagree on something? Talk. That’s how you grow.
(Also: don’t be the one who refuses to try anything “too spicy.” Live a little. Just have a glass of milk on standby)

How to Actually Embrace Diversity (Not Just Tolerate It)

🌟 Ask questions (without being nosy or weird)
🌟 Share your own culture - the awkward, the tasty, the heartfelt
🌟 Ditch the stereotypes - no one wants to be your “first gay friend” or “exotic crewmate”
🌟 Celebrate wins and milestones from everywhere, not just Christmas and whatever your country calls Independence Day
🌟 Speak up if you hear crew jokes that cross the line - banter isn’t a free pass to be a bigot

 
This industry gives you front-row seats to the incredible range of humanity. That’s not a side effect - it’s a gift. You’ll leave yachting richer in stories, broader in mind, and probably with a spicy noodle addiction. Plus you’ll have the ultimate insider info on the holidays you’re now planning to places you had never even considered visiting before. 

So make the most of it. Share your culture. Learn from others. And next time you’re in the crew mess surrounded by three languages, five flags, and a dozen dodgy playlists? Take a second to soak it in.

This isn’t just work. This is life, amplified.

 😁  Want more crew stories that lift you up?
There’s a whole Positive Section in Superyacht Life: How to Start, Succeed, & Stay Sane by Erica Lay - packed with the good stuff: community, connection, resilience, and the real reasons we stay in yachting (even after that third back-to-back trip). Available 1st October on Amazon.