Changing bed linens on a yacht: How and When

The first and most important factor when answering the question of the frequency of changing bed linens on a yacht is: how big is the superyacht? The length and the overall size of the superyacht greatly impact the expectations of how often linens change. The bigger the yacht, the bigger the facilities for processing and storing laundry. There are more crew members available, which directly impact the swiftness of service that can be expected in dealing with linens and laundry.

Basic premises of changing bed linens on a yacht

The overall impression of a superyacht charter experience greatly relies on how well-rested the guests are; they need to be able to fully enjoy every aspect of a perfect charter vacation in Croatia. This is where the interior crew, stewardesses and changing bed linens on a yacht come in.

The berth is the centre of attention for every stewardess, regardless of the yacht`s type or length. When charter guests retire to their cabins, they expect to lie down on a comfortable, clean and smooth surface, as per the superyacht standard.

Every stewardess knows that the aesthetic of the cabins and the quality of the sheets demanded by charter guests exceeds the expectations of what you would find in your typical seaside villa or a 5-star hotel.

It is true that some luxury villas and exclusive shore-side accommodation offer a quality of service similar to superyachts. This is only because they have more than enough washers, dryers and storage facilities, allowing on-shore accommodation to greatly exceed the linen output of a typical superyacht.

Laundry rotation mostly depends on storage availability, which limits the laundry rotation capacity, when it comes to how often do stewardesses change linens on a superyacht. If a laundry room is bigger, it allows for guests to choose among options when it comes to washing and taking care of more exotic or expensive fabrics.

There is always an option of a crew member taking delicates out to a land-based dry cleaner, if the need calls for it.

When constructing a yacht, expert liner suppliers recommend having at least 4 sets of bed linens per cabin, if the storage capacity allows for it.

5 factors that greatly impact the frequency of changing bed linens on a yacht

The size of the yacht laundry room

The bigger the laundry room, the more room there is for processing, cleaning, drying and folding of clothes, both of the crew and of the guests. Remember, the crew always have to look their best, so it is important not to forget this crucial thing when thinking about the capacity of the laundry room; the crew also has laundry, so does the interior and the galley!

The capacity of the washing & drying machine on a yacht

This is important because of the time it takes to wash and dry one load of laundry, depending on the capacity of the machine, sometimes the output can be smaller than the input, leading to a clogged up and messy laundry room, which is a big NO.

Of course, guests have priority over the crew, but the guest’s experience is greatly tied to the little things running smoothly. There is almost never enough time to wash particular linens more than is there time designated for it, per the laundry rota.

The laundry `rota` or rotation, is specifically designed so that the superyacht would run at an optimal output-input laundry ratio, so one side does not suffer too much, while the other gets all the attention. Changing bed linens on a yacht is therefore directly connected with the capacity of washing and drying machines.

The number of the yacht charter guests

The bigger the number of guests, the more tight the laundry rota is, because there is never enough time, space or crew available to do all things all the time. If there are just several guests, the crew can then pay more attention to their exact wishes, since there will be more time for it. And if some guest wants an extra change of linens in her/his cabin, the crew will happily abide.

Laundry stowage capacity

A superyacht comes with a limited capacity for storing all things onboard, including linens and laundry. There is a fixed set of linens available on a yacht, which in turn has a fixed laundry rota for that number of linens.

Depending on the charter`s itinerary, some days are `laundry-heavy` and some are not. For example, a beach picnic followed by a dinner in a Michelin restaurant automatically produces less dining laundry, which in turn ups the capacity for all the rest.

The number of the yacht charter crew

If you charter a yacht with 3 crew members, do not expect the same standard of service and attention to detail as you would on a yacht with 8 crew members. When it comes to lesser-crewed yachts, know that with a stewardess, a captain and a chef on board, the stew has all the responsibility of the interior to hold, not to mention serving, logistics and hospitality.

One stewardess cannot possibly hope to do the same amount of laundry a team of 5 stewardesses could accomplish. Add to that the fact that the number of crew corresponds with the length of the yacht, and you have a sure formula: the more the crew, the more often the linens get changed.

Changing bed linens on a yacht – Closing remarks

A thing that every superyacht stewardess knows is that a fixed schedule of how often the sheets get changed is necessary for a total superyacht experience. This schedule depends on how many sets of sheets the superyacht can store and the preferences of the guests. Nevertheless, the sheets and pillowcases are expected to be ironed each time a stewardess remakes the bed between changing the sheets, so the berths look neat and fresh for the guests.

A different thing to consider is that every berth is a costume made for a specific yacht, which sometimes creates problems when trying to fit the sheets. Stews often have to multitask, like balancing a mattress on one hand while trying to stuff a sheet into a tight bed frame.

This can sometimes be problematic, especially because the berth has to be spotless and sleek. Stews often spend precious time (which could be better used elsewhere) to fix, tidy and iron a specifically- wrinkly part of the sheet, so that everything could be spotless for charter guests. There is also the question of choosing the right material and type of linens, that will fit neatly into the yacht laundry rotation.

Despite all said, it is customary on superyachts that sheets for the guests are changed according to the preferences of the guests and the overall capacity of the superyacht.