All roles/Specialist crew/Personal Trainer
Specialist crew
Personal Trainer
You keep the owner, guests and often the crew fit on board, running one-to-one sessions, classes and active outings so that a long season at sea feels like a holiday, not a break from training.
- Department
- Specialist crew
- Reports to
- Interior Manager or Captain
- Yacht size
- 60m+
- Contract
- Seasonal, permanent or owner trips only
- Starting pay
- €4,000 per month
What the job is
A yacht Personal Trainer designs and delivers fitness for the owner, their family and their guests while the boat cruises or sits at anchor. Most sessions happen in the onboard gym, but you will also train on the sundeck, on the beach, on paddleboards or on a hike ashore. Programmes have to work around late dinners, rough sea days, jet lag and guests who decide at breakfast that they want a session in ten minutes.
On larger yachts the role sits in the interior or wellness team alongside the spa therapist. You look after the gym equipment, keep it clean and serviced, log what each guest does and adjust plans when someone is injured or unwell. Many owners hire a trainer who travels with them, so you may join the boat for trips only. On smaller yachts the role is often combined with steward or deckhand duties, and you work a normal rota when guests are not training.
The job is personal. You learn the owner's history, their goals, their medical notes and their moods. Discretion matters as much as coaching skill, because you spend more one-to-one time with principals than almost anyone else on board. When guests are off, you often run sessions for the crew, which helps morale and keeps you sharp. Expect to be flexible, presentable and calm with high-profile clients who are used to getting exactly what they want.
What makes a good one
- Programme design for all ages
- Coaching in small spaces and at sea
- Discretion with high-profile clients
- Injury awareness and adaptation
- Watersports and outdoor activities
A day in the life
- 06:30Check the gym, wipe down equipment, test the treadmill and Wattbike, and set out towels and chilled water. Read the guest notes from the chief stewardess on who is up early.
- 07:15One-to-one strength session with the owner in the gym. Adjust the plan because the swell has picked up and heavy overhead work is not safe.
- 08:30Sunrise yoga and mobility class on the sundeck for three guests. Pack away mats and props before breakfast service starts.
- 10:00Join the deck team for a stand-up paddleboard and snorkel session off the beach. Coach two teenagers on paddle technique while a deckhand drives the tender.
- 12:30Lunch in the crew mess, then update training logs and plan tomorrow's sessions around the captain's passage plan.
- 14:00Light interior support during guest lunch, folding towels in the spa and restocking the gym fridge.
- 16:30Guided hike ashore for the owner's partner and a friend, with water, snacks and a radio to stay in touch with the tender driver.
- 18:30Stretching and recovery session with the owner before dinner, plus a short chat about sleep and alcohol over the coming week.
- 20:00Run an optional circuit class for off-watch crew on the aft deck, then clean the gym and stand down.
Pay by country
Monthly, tax free for most crew, on yachts 60m and above. Trainers who also hold steward or spa duties sit at the top of the range. Charter tips are shared with the crew and can add one to two months' salary over a season.
- France and Monaco
- €4,000 – 6,000
- Spain
- €4,000 – 6,000
- Italy
- €4,000 – 6,000
- United Kingdom
- £3,400 – 5,100
- USA (Florida)
- US$4,500 – 6,800
- Caribbean
- US$4,500 – 6,800
- UAE
- AED 16,000 – 24,000
- Australia
- A$6,700 – 10,000
- New Zealand
- NZ$7,400 – 11,000
Required
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical
- Level 3 Personal Trainer qualification or equivalent
- Personal training liability insurance
Recommended
- Yoga or Pilates teaching certification
- Sports massage qualification
- PYA GUEST interior courses
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
- PDSD
- Food Safety Level 2
Visas
- Schengen
- US C1/D
- US B1/B2
- Australian MCV
Where it leads
Personal Trainer jobs open now
Questions crew ask
Do I need yachting experience to get hired as a Personal Trainer?
Not always. Many owners hire strong trainers from luxury gyms or private clients, but you still need STCW and an ENG1. A season as a Steward / Personal Trainer on a smaller yacht makes you much easier to place.
Will I only do personal training?
On very large yachts and owner-led contracts, mostly yes. On most boats under 80m you will also help the interior or deck team when guests are not training, so be ready to clean cabins, serve or drive toys.
What happens when there are no guests on board?
You maintain the gym, plan programmes, run crew sessions and usually support the interior team. Some trainers on trip-only contracts go home between owner visits.