Read the Superyacht Captain Report

The world of superyachts, with their opulent luxury and breathtaking oceanic journeys, has long captivated the imagination of those seeking a unique and exhilarating career path. At the helm of these majestic vessels stand the superyacht captains, skilled mariners, and leaders responsible for navigating these floating palaces through some of the world's most exotic and challenging waters.

As the allure of superyacht living continues to grow, so does the demand for experienced and capable captains to commandeer these vessels. This report delves into the intricate world of superyacht captain careers, offering an in-depth exploration of the employment landscape, the challenges faced, and the highs and lows of the career.

The retention rates of superyacht captains is on an upward curve, with a decreased number planning to seek a new job this year (40%). The top reason for captains to either job seek or stay loyal was the same. They either needed better work-life balance, or their role already provided it. Work-life balance also featured as their top priority at work, replacing retaining talented crew.

The long-term career longevity of a captain has decreased, with 69% sharing that their current career would last more than five years, a reduction from 88% in 2017. However, 91% said they would still choose their career again. 86% would also recommend their career to young people, fantastic news for the continued advocacy of the sector.

Only 7% believed young people viewed a career in the superyacht sector as a long-term career path, and 91% said they thought social media and reality TV were misleading new generations about potential careers in yachting.

58% of captains had received a pay rise in the last two years. It paid to change jobs though, those who did were more likely than those who stayed with their employer to achieve a 10% or more pay rise, at 52% and 24% respectively.

Over half of the captains received an annual bonus, most commonly valued at between five and ten percent of their annual salary. Over half of captains will be asking for a pay rise this year and nearly two-thirds threaten resignation if they do not get it.

Personnel management and guest satisfaction remained the top stress factors for captains, highlighting the complexities of managing people and making guests happy.

A 2/2 rotation was rated as the most desired working pattern, but less than half were working this way.

Three-quarters of captains have found hiring crew tough over the last 12 months, and nearly the same number said it was difficult to retain talent for more than three years.

Captains wanted to hire crew with adaptability, initiative, communication, problem-solving, and productivity soft skillsets. They also shared that improving work-life balance and training would have the most positive impact onboard their yacht.

Read the full report

To discuss the findings in the report, please contact Mark Charman, CEO & Founder of Faststream Recruitment or Kelsey Purse, Director of Shipping.

For all media enquiries, please contact our marketing team.

Follow Fastsream Recruitment on LinkedInFacebook and Twitter for the very latest updates, and exclusive insights.

Latest Insights

View All Insights
How the Everything Now generation is Reshaping Maritime Recruitment - Faststream Recruitment
How the ‘Everything Now’ Era is Reshaping Maritime Recruitment

We live in an era of instant gratification, where technology has conditioned us to expect immediate results, from same-day deliveries to on-demand streaming. This shift in expectations isn’t just a...

Singapore Maritime Recruitment Update - Spring 2025 - Faststream Recruitment
Singapore Maritime Recruitment Market Update – Spring 2025

Singapore Maritime Week, back in March, not only celebrated the sector’s ongoing innovation and resilience but also underscored some of the persistent and emerging challenges faced by maritime empl...

How HR Leaders in Maritime Can Improve Slow Internal Decision-Making - Maritime Recruitment - Faststream Recruitment
How HR Leaders in Maritime Can Improve Slow Internal Decision-Making

Slow decision-making is a hidden obstacle that many maritime businesses struggle with particularly when it comes to hiring, workforce planning, and operational decisions. Whether it’s a lengthy app...

How Leaders Can Help Employees Build More Discipline in the Workplace - Faststream Recruitment
How Leaders Can Help Employees Build More Discipline in the Workplace

Great leaders shape behaviours. One of the most valuable traits a leader can instil in their team is discipline. While talent and motivation play a role in success, consistency, focus, and structur...

How to Measure Internal Hiring in Maritime - Maritime Recruitment - Faststream Recruitment
How to Measure Internal Hiring Success in Maritime

Hiring in the maritime industry is about securing the right talent to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant operations. Whether hiring for ship management, crewing, technical, or shore-based roles,...

Superintendent Survey 2025 - Faststream Recruitment
The Superintendent Survey – We want to hear from you

Calling all Superintendents Worldwide​Faststream Recruitment is launching a global Superintendent Employment Survey, and we’d love for you to take part.Why are we conducting this survey? The global...

Expanding Globally? How Maritime Leaders Can Stay Compliant - Employer of Record - EOR - Faststream Recruitment
Expanding Globally? How Maritime Leaders Can Stay Compliant

For maritime leaders, international expansion offers exciting growth opportunities but it also comes with workforce complexities. Hiring across multiple jurisdictions means navigating a web of visa...

Why Discipline, Not Motivation, Drives Career Growth - Faststream Recruitment
Why Discipline, Not Motivation, Drives Career Growth

Success in any career is not just about talent, ambition, or luck. It is about discipline. In the maritime and shipping sectors, the professionals who achieve long-term career growth are those who ...

Global Ship Operators Employment Report 2025 - Faststream Recruitment
Just released: Global Ship Operators Employment Report 2025

We are pleased to launch the Global Ship Operators Employment Report 2025, our most comprehensive look yet into the real thoughts, motivations, and concerns of ship operators worldwide. With insigh...

Scaling Your Maritime Workforce with RPO: A Flexible Approach to Hiring - Maritime RPO - Maritime Recruitment Process Outsourcing - Maritime Recruitment - Faststream Recruitment
Scaling Your Maritime Workforce with RPO: A Flexible Approach to Hiring

The maritime industry is constantly evolving, market fluctuations, regulatory changes, and shifting project demands mean that companies must remain agile. Yet, when it comes to hiring, many maritim...

The Future of Maritime Work: Permanent versus Contract Recruitment - Faststream Recruitment
The Future of Maritime Work: Permanent versus Contract Recruitment

The maritime industry is evolving, and so is its workforce. Traditional permanent roles have long been the backbone of maritime businesses, but in recent years, contract recruitment has been on the...

AI, Automation and the Future of Maritime Jobs: Why Human Skills Still Matter - Faststream Recruitment
AI, Automation and the Future of Maritime Jobs: Why Human Skills Still Matter

AI is reshaping the maritime industry at an unprecedented pace. From predictive maintenance and autonomous shipping to AI-driven recruitment and workforce optimisation, technology is making operati...