Livia Ollfors, a 19-year-old from Hovås, Sweden, has embarked on an exciting career as a stewardess on luxury yachts in the Mediterranean, just weeks after graduating. Despite the competitive job market, Livia quickly secured a position, attributing her success to the hardworking and friendly nature of Swedes. Her role involves ensuring guests have a seamless experience, and she enjoys substantial earnings, including tips. Livia's dream is to work on a yacht in the Caribbean this winter.
Swedish Teen Livia Lands Dream Job on Luxury Yachts After Graduation
Swedish Teen Livia Lands Dream Job on Luxury Yachts After Graduation
When 19-year-old Livia Ollfors graduated, she already had a plan. Just weeks later, she found herself on a yacht in France, ready to serve luxury dinners to billionaires. She also enjoys a good monthly salary.
– The more experience you have, the more it increases. And then tips and other things are added, says Livia.
Livia Ollfors from Hovås graduated from a sports high school in Gothenburg just a few weeks ago. Despite this, she has already traveled to Monaco, Cannes, and Nice along the French Riviera. Her next destination is Saint-Tropez.
Livia works as a "stewardess" on various yachts, which means she is a type of hostess who takes care of the guests and ensures everything is clean, tidy, and runs smoothly. The largest boat she has worked on so far was 55 meters, which is considered a "smaller boat."
– On a 50-meter yacht, there are maybe ten to twelve crew members, says Livia.
This includes the other hostesses, the deck crew, engineers, and the captain, of course.
The idea of working on luxury boats in the Mediterranean started two years ago.
– I had a friend who did it a few years ago. So I felt this would be perfect after high school, says Livia.
"Advantage of Being Swedish"
Right after graduation, Livia went down to France with the hope of fulfilling the dream she had for two years. Despite many testifying to tough competition, she managed to get a job quite quickly.
– It was very nice. I know many who have been down here for several weeks and haven't gotten a single job, says Livia.
Now Livia lives with two other Swedish girls who also work on yachts. When she arrived on the Riviera, she noticed it was an advantage to be Swedish.
– We have this in us to work hard. We are very pleasant outwardly, says Livia.
Livia tells of an acquaintance who got a job on a boat but was quickly fired. It turned out she was from Ukraine and the owners were from Russia.
– I know many other nationalities who may have a bit more difficulty getting jobs due to various conflicts.
Can Earn 40,000 SEK in Tips
Suggestion: How Much She Can Earn in Tips
Ten to fifteen percent in tips is a must as a guest on a charter boat. That is, a boat rented by guests in different rounds. A boat the size of those Livia has worked on costs guests around 2 million SEK for one to two weeks. This means tips between 17,000 and 30,000 SEK.
Due to agreements Livia has signed, she cannot disclose exactly what she earns until a few months after she stops working.
– I don't earn less than 40,000 a month. Then it increases with more experience. And then tips and other things are added.
The more experience you have, the larger boats you get to work on. This means both a higher base salary and tips. On yacht rental websites, there are boats that cost anything from 1 million to over 20 million SEK per week.
How long you work and are off varies depending on the boat and contract. But the most common is to work three months in a row and then have a month off.
– Then you work basically every day for three months.
Went Down with Prejudices – Didn't Match
Livia is aware of the prejudices that exist about the industry. Even those she herself went down to the Mediterranean with have now been disproven.
– A prejudice that I know many have and that I myself had earlier was that the owners and guests would behave badly. You have heard certain stories where things have not gone so well, but my general impression is that they are good and pleasant people.
– "Below Deck" is a very exaggerated insight into the yachting world. It doesn't really look like that. It is also very talked about in the industry that those who are in "Below Deck" don't get any jobs after they have been on it, says Livia about the reality series that for over ten seasons has painted the industry as both luxurious, tough, and dramatic.
When she and her friends have time off, they get to experience things they never would have at home in Sweden. For example, they have had the opportunity to be guests on a yacht for the day.
– But that doesn't happen often.
Another time they took the train to a nearby town.
– A few weeks ago when we had dinner in Cannes, we also met a couple of well-known sports profiles in the NHL, which was also a fun experience, and they had friends who worked in the industry too.
The dream is to get a longer contract this winter on a boat in the Caribbean.
– But I think I will continue studying in a few years. I'll see how long I stay in the industry.