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Specialist crew
Spa Manager
The Spa Manager runs the yacht's spa, treatment rooms and wellness programme, delivering high-end treatments to the owner and guests while managing therapists, stock and hygiene to a five-star resort standard.
- Department
- Specialist crew
- Reports to
- Interior Manager or Chief Steward / Chief Stewardess
- Yacht size
- 70m to 150m+
- Contract
- Permanent or rotation
- Starting pay
- €5,000 per month
What the job is
You run the spa on a large yacht. That usually means a treatment room or two, a sauna, steam room, hammam, beauty salon and sometimes a gym. You deliver the most demanding treatments yourself: massage, facials, body wraps, manicures and pedicures. You also plan the wellness side of each trip, from detox menus with the chef to morning stretch classes on the sundeck. On many yachts you are the owner's personal therapist, and they will book you daily.
On bigger boats you lead a small team of therapists, beauty therapists or a Steward / Spa Therapist. You build the rota, train new crew in your treatment menu and check their work. You order product from your chosen spa brand, track stock and costs, and keep the budget in line with what the captain and management company agree. You also keep detailed guest records: allergies, pressure preferences, injuries, favourite oils and the music they like.
Hygiene and safety are your responsibility. You set the cleaning schedules for the treatment rooms, manage the laundry of spa linen with the interior team, and look after the equipment, from massage beds to steam generators, with the engineers. Outside guest trips you deep clean, service equipment, refresh the menu and treat crew. You stand watches and do drills like everyone else, and you help the interior team when the spa is quiet.
What makes a good one
- Advanced massage and facial technique
- Leading and training a small team
- Stock control and budgeting
- Strict hygiene standards
- Discretion with high-profile guests
A day in the life
- 07:00Lead a 40 minute yoga and stretch session for two guests on the sundeck before breakfast. Wipe down and stow the mats.
- 08:00Crew breakfast, then check the spa: steam room and sauna on, towels and robes stocked, treatment rooms set with fresh linen and warm oils.
- 09:00Brief your two therapists on today's bookings, including a guest with a shoulder injury and another who is pregnant. Agree who takes which treatment.
- 09:30Give the principal guest a 90 minute deep tissue massage. Note pressure, areas of focus and any feedback in the guest file afterwards.
- 12:00Run a back-to-back block of manicures and pedicures in the salon while guests come up from swimming. Check the therapists' work between clients.
- 14:00Crew lunch, then reorder facial serums and body scrub through the agent in Palma. Log usage against the trip budget.
- 15:30Deliver a signature facial and a hair blow dry for a guest going ashore for dinner. Coordinate timing with the chief stewardess and the tender driver.
- 18:30Deep clean the treatment rooms, disinfect equipment and send spa linen to the laundry. Check the hammam drains with the second engineer.
- 20:00Crew dinner, then set tomorrow's booking sheet and send it to the interior manager. Off watch by 21:30 unless a late massage is requested.
Pay by country
Monthly salary for a Spa Manager on a 70m to 150m+ yacht in 2026. Pay rises with yacht size, team size and experience. Charter yachts add tips, often one to two months' salary per season.
- France and Monaco
- €5,000 – 7,500
- Spain
- €5,000 – 7,500
- Italy
- €5,000 – 7,500
- United Kingdom
- £4,300 – 6,400
- USA (Florida)
- US$5,500 – 8,200
- Caribbean
- US$5,500 – 8,200
- UAE
- AED 20,000 – 30,000
- Australia
- A$8,500 – 12,500
- New Zealand
- NZ$9,300 – 13,800
Required
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical
- PDSD
- Level 3 or 4 beauty or massage therapy diploma (CIDESCO, CIBTAC, ITEC or VTCT)
- Senior spa experience in a luxury hotel, resort or yacht
Recommended
- PYA GUEST interior courses
- Medical First Aid
- Level 4 sports massage qualification
- Spa brand product training
- Yoga or Pilates teaching qualification
- Food Safety Level 2
Visas
- Schengen
- US C1/D
- US B1/B2
- Australian MCV
Where it leads
Spa Manager jobs open now
Questions crew ask
Do I need yacht experience to become a Spa Manager?
Not always. Many come from senior roles in five-star hotel or resort spas, but captains prefer at least one season on a yacht, often as a Spa Therapist, so you understand life on board.
Will I have to do interior work as well?
Usually some. When the spa is quiet you will help with service, housekeeping or laundry, and you stand watches and join drills like the rest of the crew.
Can I choose the spa products and treatment menu?
On most yachts yes, within a budget agreed with the captain and management. Many Spa Managers work with one luxury brand and design a menu around the owner's preferences.