Port to PaperThe Stewardess Journal

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No. 001

Port to Paper

For yacht stewardesses

The Stewardess Journal

Written by a stew, for you.

Port to Paper · @porttopaper

THE STEWARDESS JOURNAL — OPENING PAGE

Welcome to your Journal.

I’m really glad you’re here.

This journal was made for you, the stewardess or steward who gives everything on board and sometimes forgets to save a little bit for themselves. The one who has the most incredible stories but nobody around who quite understands them. The one who loves this life, even on the days it’s really hard to love.

It’s part diary, part tracker, part keepsake. A place to write down the good days and the hard ones. To log the ports you visit, the boats you work on, every version of yourself you become along the way.

You don’t have to be going through anything difficult to use it. You just have to be living a life worth writing down, and trust me, you are.

THE REALITY, IN NUMBERS

Over half (53%)of superyacht crew say their mental health has deteriorated since entering the industry.
1 in 5crew members are currently experiencing poor mental health onboard, right now, on boats just like yours.
72%of junior crew leave yachting within 18 months. Not because they weren’t good enough. Because nobody helped them stay.
37%annual turnover among junior crew, one of the highest of any industry. This is not a personal failure. This is a systemic problem.

Sources: Mental Health Onboard: The State of the Superyacht Sector (Quay Crew × Mental Health Support Solutions); Junior Crew Recruitment and Retention Report (Quay Group / Quay Crew).

You are not alone in how you’re feeling. And this journal is here for you, whether you’re having the time of your life or the hardest season yet.

The Stewardess Journal · No. 001written by a former stew, for every stew

THE STEWARDESS JOURNAL — WHAT’S INSIDE

A few things before you dive in.

This journal is yours to use however you need it.

Start at the beginning, start in the middle, skip pages, come back to them. There’s no wrong way to do it and there’s no one checking.

Use it on the good days to remember them. Use it on the hard days to get through them. Use it on the boring days just because you can.

Daily & weekly

  • IToday.Five minutes. Just for you.
  • IIHow was your week, really?Burnout doesn’t arrive all at once. It creeps in quietly, one small thing at a time.

As needed

  • IIIIf today was a hard one.You don’t have to explain it. You don’t have to make sense of it. Just put it here.
  • IVThings that actually help.Tick whatever feels manageable today. Even one counts.
  • VYou’re off the boat.Actually off. Now make it count, whatever that means to you today.

Milestones

  • VIA new boat. A new chapter.Whatever brought you here, you’re here. Let’s make this one count.
  • VIIYou’re off for a while.Before you switch off completely, take ten minutes. You’ll thank yourself later.
  • VIIIYou’re back.Whether you were gone for days or months, welcome back on board.
  • IXThis is goodbye.Not forever, just this chapter. And what a chapter it was.
  • XEverywhere this boat took you.Fill in every port and anchorage. Rate each one honestly.

One last thing

  • There are no wrong answers here.
  • You don’t have to fill every page.
  • You don’t have to do this every day.
  • If a page doesn’t feel right today, skip it and come back.
  • If something makes you smile brilliant. If something makes you cry, also brilliant.
The Stewardess Journal · No. 001written by a former stew, for every stew

THE STEWARDESS JOURNAL · A NOTE FROM THE PERSON WHO MADE THIS

A note from the person who made this.

However long you were on board, you showed up, dealt with it, and kept going.

The difficult guests, the early starts, the moments where you had nothing left and still smiled and topped up someone’s champagne. That takes something.

I made this because when I was in your position, I could have done with somewhere to put it all.

Now close this, go live your life, and come back when you’re ready for the next one. I’ll be here.

Love, your fellow former stew x

The Stewardess Journal · No. 001written by a former stew, for every stew

THE STEWARDESS JOURNAL — DAILY CHECK-IN

Today.

Five minutes. Just for you.

Date

Location

01 — How did you sleep last night?

Did the anchor chain, a cabin mate, or last night’s swell have other plans?

BadlyOkayWellReally well

02 — How are you feeling right now, honestly?

Circle as many as feel true. There are no wrong answers.

Lifted

InspiredEnergeticExcitedGratefulProudStrongHopefulContent

Heavy

ExhaustedFlatAnxiousLonelyNumbIrritableHomesick

03 — Have you called friends or family lately?

Not a text. An actual call. If not, when did you last?

04 — What’s the atmosphere on board today?

Crew tension, guest energy, captain’s mood, whatever’s sitting with you.

05 — What would make today feel more manageable?

A catch-up with a close crewmate · some alone time with Netflix · a voice note to a friend back home · something else entirely.

06 — One small thing you did for yourself today

It counts even if it was just five minutes alone with a coffee.

The Stewardess Journal · No. 001written by a former stew, for every stew

THE STEWARDESS JOURNAL — WEEKLY BURNOUT TRACKER

How was your week, really?

Burnout doesn’t arrive all at once. It creeps in quietly, one small thing at a time.

Week starting

1 = really struggling · 5 = genuinely good

Energy levels

Beyond the physical tiredness of the job

12345

Connection to home

Family, friends, the life waiting for you

12345

Crew relationships

Tension, trust, or something in between

12345

Enjoyment of the job

Genuinely, not the answer you’d give the captain

12345

Sense of self

Do you still feel like you, off duty?

12345

Use of free time

Did you actually rest, or just recover enough to go back?

12345

Nourishment & mealtimes

Eating properly, not just what’s left after service

12345

What do your scores tell you this week?

Look for patterns. Three or more areas scoring 2 or below is your signal to slow down.

One thing you can do for yourself before next week

Small and realistic. Something that’s actually possible on board.

Noticing is the first step. You just did something most people on this boat haven’t done all season.

The Stewardess Journal · No. 001written by a former stew, for every stew

THE STEWARDESS JOURNAL — HARD DAY PAGE

If today was a hard one.

You don’t have to explain it. You don’t have to make sense of it. Just put it here.

What happened, or what it felt like

Nobody else will read this. Be as honest as you need to be.

What part of life on board is affecting you the most?

Every contract has its ups and downs. Don’t feel guilty for not feeling yourself.

Identitywondering who you are outside of this job
The social sidecrew dynamics, hierarchy, politics
Isolationfar from home, far from yourself
The work sidepressure, expectations, long hours
The futurenot knowing what comes next
Something personalnothing to do with the boat

Who or what made it harder than it needed to be?

A guest, a crewmate, a captain, the rotation, yourself, no judgement here.

One small thing that helped today, even a little

A view. A message from home. A crewmate who noticed. Yoga. Anything.

If you need to talk to someone today, reach out to a loved one. Or if it feels a bit too much:

  • ISWAN 24hr Yacht Crew Helpyachtcrewhelp.org
  • Seas the Mindseasthemind.co.uk
  • The Crew Coachthecrewcoach.com
The Stewardess Journal · No. 001written by a former stew, for every stew

THE STEWARDESS JOURNAL — WHEN YOU NEED A RESET

Things that actually help.

Tick whatever feels manageable today. Even one counts.

CONNECT

  • Call home, not a text, an actual call
  • Send a voice note to someone who gets it
  • Have a proper chat with a crewmate you trust
  • Watch something familiar and comforting on Netflix

MOVE YOUR BODY

  • Ten minutes of yoga or stretching in your cabin
  • Walk the deck, fresh air, no phone, just breathe
  • Use the gym or swim if you’re in a good anchorage
  • Put a playlist on and dance it out, cabin doors locked

TREAT YOURSELF

  • Full skincare routine, take your time with it
  • Face mask, hair mask, pamper night in your cabin
  • Put your favourite outfit on, even just for dinner
  • Order or make yourself something you actually want to eat

REST YOUR MIND

  • Write it all out in this journal, no filter, just honest
  • Five minutes of silence, no phone, no noise, just you
  • Read ten pages of a book, something just for you
  • Listen to a podcast or audiobook that takes you somewhere else
  • Nap without guilt, rest is not laziness

Add your own

The Stewardess Journal · No. 001written by a former stew, for every stew

THE STEWARDESS JOURNAL — SHORE LEAVE

You’re off the boat.

Actually off. Now make it count, whatever that means to you today.

Date

Port

What’s the plan, circle everything that sounds good

This is your time. Make it exactly what you want it to be.

Get out

Get dressed upGo for dinnerDrinks outExplore somewhere newWalk somewhere beautifulMove my bodyBe around peopleCall home

Slow down

Sit in a café aloneShop without rushingBe completely aloneDo absolutely nothing

One thing you are not allowed to think about while you’re ashore

Leave it on the gangway. It’ll still be there when you get back.

What are you most looking forward to right now?

Walking on solid ground that doesn’t move. No one calling you over the radio. Anything.

After you’re back on board, did you get what you needed?

Not reallyPartlyYesMore than expected

One moment from today you want to remember

The view, the conversation, the gelato, the outfit, the ten minutes of silence. Write it down before it fades.

Right, uniform off, real clothes on, out you go. Have the best time. You absolutely deserve it.

The Stewardess Journal · No. 001written by a former stew, for every stew

THE STEWARDESS JOURNAL — NEW VESSEL

A new boat. A new chapter.

Whatever brought you here, you’re here. Let’s make this one count.

Vessel name

Size

My role

Join date

Home port

Cruising area

What made you take this job?

The money, the location, a recommendation, a gut feeling. No judgement, write it down.

First impressions, the boat, the crew, the vibe

You’ll want to look back at this one day. Write it while it’s fresh.

What are you hoping this contract gives you?

Experience, savings, adventure, clarity, a fresh start. Be specific.

One intention for this contract

Not a goal. An intention. How do you want to show up this time?

The Stewardess Journal · No. 001written by a former stew, for every stew

THE STEWARDESS JOURNAL — ROTATION DEBRIEF

You’re off for a while.

Before you switch off completely, take ten minutes. You’ll thank yourself later.

Rotation off date

Back on date

Last port

How are you feeling about leaving the boat?

Circle honestly, you can feel more than one at once.

Lifted

ExcitedProudGratefulReady to goRelieved

Heavy

Sad to leaveMixedExhaustedBurnt outNumb

What defined this rotation?

A charter, a moment, a person, a place. The thing that will stick with you.

What are you leaving on the boat?

Stress, a bad dynamic, a difficult charter. Don’t bring it home with you.

What does home need from you right now?

And what do you need from home? Be honest about both.

What do you want to do differently next rotation?

One thing. Keep it simple and realistic.

One word for this rotation

The Stewardess Journal · No. 001written by a former stew, for every stew

THE STEWARDESS JOURNAL — WELCOME BACK

You’re back.

Whether you were gone for days or months, welcome back on board.

Back on date

Joining port

Time off

How are you feeling about being back?

All feelings are valid here, even the complicated ones.

Lifted

ExcitedRefreshedReadyMotivatedHappy to see the crew

Heavy

NumbNervousAlready tiredDidn’t want to come back

So, tell me about your leave.

Where did you go, who did you see, what did you do? The highlights, write them all down.

Did you actually rest while you were off?

Be honest, this sets the tone for everything that follows.

Genuinely yesPartlyNot reallyWhat is rest

What are you bringing back with you?

Fresh energy, a clearer head, a good conversation, a great memory. Pack the good stuff.

Is there anything you want to leave at home?

Anything from the weather to a run-in with an ex.

The Stewardess Journal · No. 001written by a former stew, for every stew

THE STEWARDESS JOURNAL — FINAL SIGN OFF

This is goodbye.

Not forever, just this chapter. And what a chapter it was.

Vessel

Final port

Sign off date

How does it feel to be stepping off for the last time?

Circle everything that’s true right now, all of it is allowed.

Lifted

ProudExcitedReadyGratefulRelievedAt peace

Heavy

NumbSadExhaustedOverwhelmed

Or

All of the above

What are you most proud of?

Not what anyone else saw. What you know about yourself now that you didn’t before.

Who will you remember?

The crewmates, the guests, the captain, whoever left a mark on you.

What is this boat leaving with you?

Skills, stories, confidence, sea legs, a thick skin, a lifelong friend. Write it all.

What’s next for you?

Another boat, a break, a new direction, a dream you’ve been sitting on. Write it all out.

The Stewardess Journal · No. 001written by a former stew, for every stew

THE STEWARDESS JOURNAL — PLACES I’VE BEEN

Everywhere this boat took you.

Fill in every port and anchorage. Rate each one honestly.

Port / anchorageCountryDateRating

The one place that will stay with you from this contract

Just one. And why. It might be different next time, that’s the point.

Most people don’t get to see these places in a lifetime, let alone live there.

The Stewardess Journal · No. 001written by a former stew, for every stew