Why a yacht packing list is different
Space on a working superyacht is tight. Crew cabins are small, storage is usually a locker or under a bunk, and there is no spare corner for a hard-shell suitcase that will not fold down. That is why the advice you will hear from working crew and crew placement agencies is consistent: pack in a soft bag, not a hard case, and pack light.
Wheels and metal buckles are the two things to avoid. Bags with wheels or metal hardware can mark internal woodwork and cabinetry, which is not a great first impression on a boat you are hoping will hire you. A soft holdall or duffel that folds flat under a bunk is the standard the industry has settled on, and it packs down for flights and buses far more easily than a suitcase does too.
Documents: pack these before anything else
Whatever else makes the bag, your STCW Basic Safety Training certificate and ENG1 medical need to travel with you, and in hard copy. A mate or captain can ask to see them on the dock with no notice, sometimes within minutes of first saying hello, exactly as covered in our dockwalking guide. A printed CV and any references are worth carrying too, set out in full in our guide to writing a yacht CV.
Carry the originals, but do not let them be the only copy. A lost bag or a folder that gets soaked on a tender transfer should not mean starting your certificate paperwork over. YachtSync scans your STCW and ENG1 in seconds and keeps them on your phone, so you always have a backup ready to share as a clean PDF, even if the originals are still drying out. Free for crew. Always.
Clothing and uniform
Once you are hired, many boats supply uniform items, commonly polo shirts, shorts and whites, sometimes tailored to the vessel. Before you have a job, though, you are dressing for dockwalking and interviews, not for deck watch, so a plain polo and shorts that would look right on a boat go further than anything branded or flashy, in line with the dockwalking etiquette in our guide above.
- A warm layer or two. It can be noticeably cooler at sea and on night watches than it is on land, even in the Mediterranean summer.
- Sun protection. A hat, sunglasses and a high-factor sunscreen. Deck work means hours in direct sun most days.
- Smart casual for interviews and dockwalking. Clean, plain, presentable. This is what a captain sees before they see your CV.
- Swimwear and a couple of changes of casual clothing for time ashore, kept separate from anything you would wear on deck.
Footwear
Non-marking, non-slip deck shoes are close to compulsory on most boats. The soles are designed not to scuff teak or gel coat and to grip during a wash-down, and most captains expect crew to already own a pair rather than provide them. Bring a second, smarter pair for going ashore or attending an interview, and keep the two separate, deck shoes are for the deck.
Toiletries and personal kit
A boat will not come stocked with your personal toiletries, so bring what you would normally use day to day, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo and the rest. A few extras are worth the space specifically because of the job:
- Seasickness remedies, tried and tested before you need them for the first time at work, not on your first rough crossing.
- A dry bag, useful for keeping a phone, documents or a change of clothes dry on a tender transfer between yacht and shore.
- Any personal medication, in its original packaging and with enough supply to cover a stretch without easy access to a pharmacy.
What to leave behind
Pack light, deliberately. Multiple hard suitcases, a wardrobe's worth of clothing, or valuables you cannot stow securely all cause more problems than they solve on a boat with limited space and limited privacy. If you would not want to carry it solo across a marina in one trip, it is probably too much.
A one-page kit list
| Category | Bring |
|---|---|
| Documents | STCW and ENG1 (hard copy plus a digital backup), passport, printed CV and references |
| Bag | A soft holdall or duffel, no wheels, no metal buckles |
| Clothing | Warm layer, sun hat, smart-casual for dockwalking and interviews, swimwear |
| Footwear | Non-marking deck shoes, a separate smart pair for ashore |
| Toiletries | Your usual personal kit, seasickness remedies, sun cream, any medication |
| Extras | A dry bag for tender transfers, a phone with data, a notebook for names and contacts |
Pack the bag. Let YachtSync handle the paperwork.
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Frequently asked questions
Should I bring a hard suitcase or a soft bag for yacht crew work?
A soft bag. Storage on a working superyacht is tight, usually under a bunk, and a soft holdall or duffel folds down to fit where a hard suitcase will not. Bags with wheels or metal buckles can also mark internal woodwork, which is why crew agencies and working crew consistently advise against hard-shell luggage.
Does the boat provide a uniform for yacht crew?
Often, yes, once you are hired. Many boats supply uniform items such as polo shirts, shorts and whites, sometimes tailored to the vessel. Before you have a job, bring smart-casual clothing, a plain polo and shorts, so you look right for dockwalking and interviews rather than turning up already in uniform.
Do I need my own deck shoes as yacht crew?
Yes, in most cases. Non-marking, non-slip deck shoes protect teak and gel coat from scuffing and give grip on a wet deck during wash-downs, and most captains expect crew to already own a pair rather than provide them.
Should I bring printed or digital copies of my certificates?
Both. Hard copies of your STCW and ENG1 are still what most captains and agents expect to see first, so pack the originals. Keep a digital backup as well, so a lost bag or a soaked folder never leaves you without proof you are qualified.
Related guides: Dockwalking in Antibes and Palma → · How to become yacht crew → · How to write a yacht CV → · How much does it cost to become yacht crew →