This beautiful, hard working super yacht stewardess from the tiny island of Malta, brings a warmth and gentleness that is sure to warm your heart.

Interview with Sole Super Yacht Stewardess Esther Busuttil

What is your star sign? Taurus  Where do you come from?

• I come from the island of Malta

How long have you lived in The South of France and how did you come to live there?

• First time I found myself in the south of France was back in 2007.
• I did my STCW95 in Australia (where I had been travelling for 2 and a half years) and I was told it is the place to be if you want to find work on super yachts.

How long have you worked in the super yacht industry?

• Since April 2007 🙂 I stopped for a year and started again in October 2008.

What are your biggest accomplishments?

• I think that landing my first yacht job as a sole stewardess (no previous experience)  with a very busy season ahead was quite an accomplishment.
• Another accomplishment was when I decided that I wanted to go somewhere far, and travel for 6 months…So I went to Australia to travel by myself. I always wanted to do the ‘loop’, and I did, even though that meant stopping to look for work in between, looking for accommodation, and transportation to take me all around. I had the most amazing time of my life, with the most amazing people that I met along the way 🙂 That continued on to New Zealand, Fiji, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.
• I returned home three years later.

Can you work under pressure?

• Yes, I can, and I am good at it 🙂

What is the most difficult situation you have faced?

• When the guests have ordered 2 pina coladas, 2 mojitos and 2 espresso martinis.  Then they said that that the pina coladas were so good that they wanted six of them, exactly the same way  / ratios I had done the previous two. I had only one tin of coconut milk left 😛 so there was no way it was going to be the same.
• Obviously I had to explain and I promised I will get more when I go shopping next. (NB. On the preference sheet, they have specified they do not drink too much, and they had pre-ordered  other spirits that I have provisioned, but remained unopened… )

What are your pet hates?

• I have no pet hates 🙂

Tell me about the last time you felt anger on the job?

• Asking one of the crew members to go up on deck and check for me whether the boss was up while I was eating some breakfast, and instead he disappeared into his cabin for a lie down.

 What do you do in your spare time?

• Any kind of exercise, especially if I have time to get off the yacht.
• Definitely a stroll around the village or city, if we have just docked at a new place. Exploring a new country is always exciting.

What makes you laugh?

• Good comedies, such as ‘Two and a half Men ‘.
• Odd jokes from crew whilst on board. Once they pop, they don’t stop.

What would you like to be doing five years from now?

•  I’d like to have my own business, whether that would mean having my own little coffee shop or something that I have yet to dream about.

Where would be your favourite holiday destination and why?

• Anywhere where the sea is clear and turquoise,  the sand is white and palm trees all around 🙂 I just love the contrast!Then I would spend my time on a deck chair reading a good book, and sipping a cocktail. Priceless.
• On a different note. I love New York. Period.

Where do like to shop?

• Where don’t I like to shop?  😉 I really like Sephora in the USA, they give you a lot of samples to try before you buy.
• Macy’s.
• Wholefoods for anything organic.
• Guess for clothing.

Can you recommend a service or a product that may be helpful to Super yacht Stewardesses?

• Vinegar and water mixed together in a spray bottle works wonders!
• If you have time between charters, use a drop or two of Murphy’s oil soap to a bucket of warm water. Wipe clean furniture,  but then wipe off with vinegar and water to remove residue.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

• Everything!  I like the travel side of it, especially if you happen to be on a world cruise Superyacht!
• Most people daydream about sailing in paradise. I was one of those people, but now I am living that dream.  Words cannot describe the incredible beauty of sailing in pristine waters!  Through a Fjord, surrounded by nature itself: the Saguenay Fjord National Park, and sailing the Maine natural sculpted coastline. Sure, you are still working very hard, and the guests are always a priority, but I feel so much joy when I am out in the wide open space, …
• Working ashore sitting comfortably  in front of a computer hasn’t had the same effect on me! *giggling*

What specific training was required to obtain this job?

• First and foremost, the STCW95 is (and was) mandatory.  Besides that, I used to have a part-time job when I lived in Malta permanently.
• We had a lot of functions where silver-service was a must.  That required a lot of training and that experience really helped me get that first job. I am glad I was part of that team.
• Speaking different languages is definitely a plus!

Can you tell me some vocabulary or terminology specific to your job?

• The detailing is a very common one 🙂
• Provisioning is another one.

What type of reading do you do on a daily basis?

• Anything about health and physiology.
• Antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, skin care and how we are what we eat!

If you could go back and change something related to your education or your life as a student what would you change or what would you do differently?

• I would definitely finish off a degree, and start working on yachts after 🙂 rather than not finishing my studies to start working at a lousy job.

What inspires you?

• People that have got a certain drive for life, people that get out of their comfort zone.
• People that are willing to do anything to achieve their dreams.
• Positive people 🙂

An Interview with superyacht stewardess Esther Busuttil.