An Interview with Rookie Stewardess Annick Suplicy
Every great chief stewardess starts somewhere. In this series, The Stewardess Bible speaks to the crew who are living the early chapters — the ones still figuring it out, still finding their sea legs, and doing it beautifully anyway. Meet Annick Suplicy: junior housekeeper, Capricorn, and proof that the best careers are rarely the ones you planned.
Star sign? Capricorn.
Where are you from? Born in Spain, raised in Brazil.
Where do you call home these days? My family is in Brazil, but since January I have been living in Spain — so home is a little bit of both right now.
How long have you been working in the superyacht industry? Ten months.
What has been your biggest accomplishment so far? I am still junior, so nothing enormous yet — but being invited to temporarily join another boat belonging to my owner, working in the Seychelles, was a pretty special moment. I did not expect it, and it meant a great deal.
Can you work under pressure? I assume it is very hard. I still have to work on controlling my mood when things get intense — I am honest about that.
What is the most difficult situation you have faced? Dropping my Biological Sciences degree because I was deeply unhappy, without having any idea what to do next. At the time it felt like a failure. Looking back, it was one of the better decisions I ever made.
What are your pet hates? People being ironic or passive-aggressive with me. Chewing with an open mouth. Shouting. Slamming doors. None of these are negotiable for me.
Tell me about the last time you felt real anger at work. When a few crew members started complaining — purely for the sake of complaining — about some organisational improvements I had put in place. It was frustrating because the changes were genuinely for the better. I had to remind myself not to take it personally.
What do you do in your spare time? Honestly? I am in quite a low-energy season of my life right now, so I have been staying indoors more than I probably should. But when the energy is there, I love going out for a really good dinner. And whenever the opportunity presents itself — diving or snorkelling. Every time.
What makes you laugh? Good times with friends. And booze — with friends.
Where do you see yourself in five years? Chief stewardess or purser on a great vessel with a good rotation system. Something that lets me keep travelling properly, not just passing through ports.
Favourite holiday destination? I do not think a single favourite exists for me — I love too many places. But give me a good breeze, sunshine, excellent diving, and amazing food, and I am completely happy. The sea is always the answer.
Where do you like to shop? Small local shops. Things made nearby, by real people. I am not a mall person.
Can you recommend a product or service for fellow stewardesses? I am too new to be handing out advice just yet — ask me again in a few years.
What do you enjoy most about your job? The combination. A hospitality role that also moves you around the world, constantly introducing you to new places and people. It is genuinely unlike anything else.
What training did you need for this role? My position is junior housekeeper, so beyond the STCW and ENG1, nothing additional was formally required. That said, I chose to invest in a five-day interior course before I started — and I am glad I did.
Any vocabulary specific to your role that you would share with aspiring crew? Nothing is coming to mind right now — perhaps that is a sign I need to pay more attention!
What do you read daily? Health blogs, the news, and fiction e-books when I can. I always have something on the go.
If you could go back and change anything about your education or student years — would you? I honestly do not think I would. I dropped Biology in my second year, graduated in Product Design, and worked in that field for just over two years before ending up here. At the time it all felt rather chaotic. Now it makes perfect sense. Those experiences taught me who I am and led me exactly where I needed to be — and I am genuinely happy. You cannot argue with that.
What inspires you? Travelling, without question. And what I mean by that is everything travelling contains: the new cultures, the languages, the people, the exposure to ways of living that are completely different from your own. It is the best thing in the world. It is why I am here.
Thank you, Annick — here is to the Seychelles, the sea, and whatever extraordinary chapter comes next.
