A woman who works on a superyacht, serving billionaires, has shared secrets of the industry – including what they have to do if pirates try to come onboard.
Giselle Azueta, 39, previously made headlines revealing some of the requests she gets from people staying on the yacht – including having to cook their dog’s steaks and filling bathtubs with bottled water.
Now, she has lifted the lid on other aspects of the industry, including some of the exclusive perks she gets to enjoy – as well as the dangers she has to prepare for.
“It’s like you have a VIP pass all the time,” Giselle, who serves as head stewardess, told NeedToKnow.co.uk.
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“You go to the best events and are in places you can not even pronounce.
“Visiting exotic places, seeing the views, these daily sunsets.”
When it comes to being targeted by pirates, Giselle has revealed the hard rules she must follow to avoid being held ransom.
She said: “The first thing in the protocol is not to let them get on the boat – that is the most important.
“There are some boats that have water jets around them, which gives them pressure when they want to climb them and does not let them climb.
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“There are others that have a little fence or something like that.
“But if they climb up, you have to find a hiding place and pray that they don’t find anything.
“They want to steal the merchandise.
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“But there were also times when things were put on ships to kidnap crew or guests.
“If you come to work on a yacht, the first thing you do when you get on is look for your hiding place.”
Despite the high-pressure situations that could potentially arise, Giselle loves her unique line of work.
After starting out on a rented yacht, the 39-year-old made her way up the ranks to head-stewardess.
She says that requirements to travel the world and serve billionaires include knowing the English language well and undertaking a ship survival course.
Jobs the stewardess undertakes on board include planning events and dinners and making sure that dinner decorations are diverse and “spectacular”.
She said: “I buy provisions and bring them to the ship no matter what it entails, [and] help the chef when he needs it.
“[I also] manage and plan dinner times, allergies, and specialties with the chef.”
Giselle also ensures guests and crew members are stocked up on anything they need, keeps the yacht looking organised and presentable, and plans excursions for guests.
She added: “I organise and clean every corner of the interior of the yacht…and make sure the crew cleans up after themselves.
“I also] make sure that nothing was forgotten on the yacht – because if that happened, it [would be] my mistake.”
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