It’s official – superyacht summer has arrived.
This week, Bella Hadid is enjoying a trip in Saint-Tropez on a luxury vessel, while David and Victoria Beckham are holidaying with their son Romeo and daughter Harper on their £16million yacht around Ibiza.
On Thursday, the former Spice Girl-turned-designer impressed her fans after showing her commitment to fashion by teetering in heels on rocky terrain as she exited the yacht to join her family for a lunch in Formentera.
The scenes were reminiscent of when Victoria’s friend Lauren Sanchez kept her own heels on as she walked along a rocky Ibiza beach in August last year.
But despite the impressive sight, the move to wear shoes – especially such glamorous pairs – is actually breaking yacht etiquette, according to Laura Windsor, known as the Queen of Etiquette, who advised Netflix on Regency-era social graces for Bridgerton.
‘Absolutely no heels allowed as they could dig into the decking. Usually, one goes barefoot,’ she told the Daily Mail.
Elsewhere, the rules of etiquette for superyachts include always tipping the staff members on board.
Julius Smith, a former royal butler with more than thirty years’ experience, revealed: ‘If a captain and crew are chartering a £3.5million yacht, guests would be expected to leave at least £350,000 for the crew.’
So, as A-listers flaunt their high-heeled fashion, public displays of affection (PDA) and smoking on board – all things that, according to the experts, shouldn’t be done a luxury vessel – we take a look at yacht etiquette, and the celebrities who have broken it…
David and Victoria Beckham are holidaying with their son Romeo and daughter Harper on their £16million yacht. On Thursday, the former Spice Girl-turned-designer (pictured centre) impressed her fans after showing her commitment to fashion by teetering in heels on rocky terrain as she exited the yacht to join her family for a lunch in Formentera
The scenes by Posh Spice were reminiscent of when Victoria’s friend Lauren Sanchez (pictured left) kept her own heels on as she walked along a rocky Ibiza beach in August last year
NO HEELS ON BOARD
Laura insisted: ‘If you are going to spend time on the yacht, take your shoes off before you venture on board.
‘The crew will let you know where to keep them or just place sandals in your bag. Absolutely no heels allowed as they could dig into the decking. Usually, one goes barefoot.’
Julius agreed, saying: ‘It’s common knowledge that certain shoes will damage the deck,’ before adding: ‘However, the reality of getting guests to remove their shoes and always leave them at the deck is quite unusual.
‘The crew will always have something laid out for the guests to walk along more comfortably.’
So perhaps it’s no wonder that famous faces like Victoria Beckham and Lauren Sanchez can’t help but look their best even when leaving and arriving on yachts.
Both have been pictured walking across rocky ground in heels during luxury holidays on vessels.
ALWAYS TIP THE CREW
Meanwhile, ‘the crew must always respect the guests and vice versa’, said Julius. ‘One thing to remember is that the owner may own the yacht, but it is the captain who is the real boss, and you always want to stay on his good side.
‘Some captains are good, some are awful. But if a captain and crew are chartering a £3.5million yacht, guests would be expected to leave at least £350,000 for the crew on board. Owners may not get tipped, but certainly the crew should be.’
However, Laura urged that guests shouldn’t be ‘overly friendly’ with the crew, adding: ‘Remember to use your please and thank yous and treat them the way you would any other staff.’
MOSTLY NO SMOKING (UNLESS IT’S CIGARS!)
JK Rowling photographed enjoying a cigar on her superyacht in a picture shared to Twitter
Rita Ora on a yacht during the 67th Cannes Film Festival in France in 2014
Alongside fashion moments and daring PDA, some celebrities – such as JK Rowling and Rita Ora – are photographed smoking whilst on board their luxury yachts
But ‘guests on board are okay to smoke, if allowed by the owner’, explained Julius.
‘Some charter boats may have a no smoking policy, which must be respected. Unfortunately, some will smoke anyway, but you always want to be polite.
‘On many high value yachts, it’s usual for guests to smoke cigars and cigarettes. The crew, on the other hand, cannot smoke.
‘You would also never have lit candles, but always battery-operated ones to avoid fire hazards.’
DON’T DRINK MORE BOOZE THAN YOUR HOST
‘If you easily become drunk do moderate your alcohol intake,’ warned Laura. ‘Falling overboard while the boat is moving doesn’t give a great impression to your host or anyone else.
‘There is also the danger of drowning and that would definitely ruin the whole holiday – for you, your loved ones and the people on board.
‘But if you can hold your liquor, follow your host, try not to drink more than he!’
Julius said ‘alcohol is typically a big issue’, recalling: ‘There was one evening where a guest had drunk so much that they ended up dancing into the water and the crew had to go retrieve her. Her husband hid in the cabin from embarrassment.
‘Still, there are no limits on what these boats spend on wine and their favourite tipple. Particular boats will even have their own wine sommelier.’
NO PDA OUTSIDE
Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker pictured packing on the PDA on a yacht in Italy in 2022
Elsewhere, Kourtney Kardashian couldn’t keep her hands – or lips – off her husband of four years, Travis Barker, when holidaying on a yacht in Italy in 2022.
The reality TV star and her rockstar beau appeared carefree as they were snapped packing on the PDA – but according to the experts, it’s a big no-no.
‘Lots may go on behind closed doors, but avoid excessive PDA,’ urged Julius, while Laura added: ‘You have your own cabin – use it for this.
‘Because there are others there, it’s not a good look seeing you grope your partner in public. A little bit of modesty goes a long way.’
NO UNINVITED EXTRA GUESTS
Just like you shouldn’t bring an extra guest to a dinner party unannounced, the same applies on a yacht, explained Laura.
‘It’s not only inconvenient but it shows you have no clue about the finer things in life,’ insisted the expert.
Julius agreed, explaining: ‘The catering and logistics would have been sorted for the designated guests.’
KEEP BOUNDARIES IN PLACE WITH CREW
‘There are certain boundaries in place with the crew. If a guest offers a crew member a drink, they must politely decline or think of an excuse to reject the invitation,’ revealed Julius.
Laura echoed this, adding: ‘There has to be a subtle professional boundary between you and the crew.
‘They are there to work and should not be distracted by too much friendliness. It’s not appropriate.’
NEVER LEAVE THE DINNER TABLE BEFORE YOUR HOST
For those invited on board a yacht, you’re captive at dinners until the host decides it’s time to go and take a siesta or enjoy the sea air.
Laura insisted: ‘During a meal it would be extremely rude to leave the table before the host does.
‘A meal is a way of gathering, bonding and furthering the relationship even if it goes on for hours. It may be a part of the host’s culture to do so. Just lean back and enjoy. You are all on holiday – what is the rush?’
