Whether a person wants to work on a luxury cruise liner or a merchant marine vessel, becoming a chief steward requires dedication and training. He or she will be prepared to oversee a ship’s stewards and stewardesses in this position after mastering all of the various positions within the kitchen and hospitality staff. Before moving into this position, you’ll usually need several years of experience.
In nearly every type of passenger ship on the ocean, a chief steward is a valuable crew member. The skills of a chief steward are required on everything from small yachts with a few guests to enormous boats carrying thousands of sailors. This person is in charge of all of the on-board cooking and cleaning staff, as well as some of the more complex duties.
If a person wants to become a chief steward, experience is essential, as it is for many other jobs. In most cases, he or she will not require any additional training or education. Joining a ship’s cooking crew is a great way to get started. While he or she will most likely begin at the bottom of the kitchen ladder, perhaps as a dishwasher or line cook, this is an excellent place to begin learning all of the different positions.
Anyone aspiring to be a chief steward must be proficient in all aspects of shipkeeping. He or she may have to start with simple tasks like emptying trash cans or mopping floors, but each new task will help him or her get closer to the top job. Clearly, someone must move from the kitchen to the cleaning crew or vice versa at some point. Speaking with the chief steward about your goals is a great way to get advice and guidance.
Most people only need to take one more step to become a chief steward once they have a good understanding of the kitchen and housekeeping world. Working as a steward’s assistant gives you valuable experience in the areas of employee management, duty delegation, communication, and bookkeeping. This is the best way to attain a full understanding of the pressures of running a ship’s kitchen and cleaning services in order to be promoted to a chief steward.
Many people believe that becoming a chief steward requires at least five years of experience. A person can gain a thorough understanding of the job by performing a variety of kitchen and cleaning tasks. A chief steward can be anyone who enjoys management and has a strong work ethic.