Hostess Workshops & Domestic Staff Training

Ashore by Virtual Yacht Assistant

Born from a passion for flawless hospitality, Ashore translates the seven-star standard of superyacht service to the modern home. We created this space to share our expert skills, hosting secrets, and organisational tips with those who take pride in living and entertaining elegantly.

Whether you are joining us for a fun, Curated Social Experience or enrolling your staff in our Household Mastery courses, we help you master the art of the perfect home.

Our Philosophy

The Yacht Standard, Anchored Ashore

Why We Started Ashore

For years, we navigated the globe, delivering flawless, seven-star service to elite clientele aboard the world’s most luxurious superyachts. But over time, we realised something profound: the magic of that lifestyle, the perfectly poured champagne, the breathtaking tablescapes, and the art of effortless hosting, shouldn’t have to end at the marina, bring it home!

We wanted to take the closely guarded skills, tips, and tricks of the yachting industry and translate them for the modern homeowner.

Why Book an Ashore Experience?

We believe that learning to live and host beautifully should be just as enjoyable as the result itself.

Curated Expereinces

Workshops for Social Elegance

Master the art of hosting with our exclusive, hands-on masterclasses.

Who: Any home-owner that loves entertaining and maintaining an organised and spotless home.

Duration: 4 – 6 hours

Location: V&A Waterfront or at your home

Private bookings only, for up to 10 pax.

Blooms & Bubbles

Handcrafted floral design workshops complemented by top-tier MCC sparkling wine for a truly indulgent pairing.

Hostess Lip Service

Refine timeless cocktails and craft imaginative signatures. This hands-on session covers technique, flavour pairing, presentation and seamless service.

Dine by Design

A creative tablescape workshop blended with service artistry. Learn to design evocative table settings and execute refined service with grace and etiquette.

household mastery

The Sterling Housekeeper Certification

Who: Domestic staff, laundry assistant, nanny, stay at home mother or house manager

Duration: 1 – 2 days per skillset listed below (skill level dependent)

Location: V&A Waterfront or at your home

Group or private bookings

Housekeeping Mastery

Transforms a space into a sanctuary of pristine cleanliness and meticulous detail. Advanced cleaning protocols, surface protection, time-saving routines and proactive maintenance.

Laundry & Wardrobe Care

Provides precise methods for washing, drying, ironing, and finishing, with fabric-specific guidance to protect fibers, colours and silhouettes.

Guest Service Ettiquete

Guest Service Etiquette focuses on warm, attentive, and respectful hosting; practical techniques for greeting, pacing service, handling requests and ensuring guests feel valued.

How we work?

Curated Experiences are only available by private booking for up to 10 pax.

Household Mastery Skills can be booked as a pre-scheduled group class or done privately one on one.

Booking Form

Complete Booking form in full & submit

Review

We review your booking & respond via email (24 hrs)

Invoice & Payment

Receive invoice & send POP

Confirmation

Receive workshop or training details via e-mail.

bringing yacht standards to you

Trained Crew

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Student Rating

0 /5

Guest Experience Rating

5 /5

Word of Mouth rate

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Testimonial

What they say.

Real Stories from Real Clients

"VYA is the team you want on your side—efficient, reliable and well-organised. They can assist with CVs, visas, seaman books, and much more. If you are new to the yachting industry and looking for the right team to support you, look no further than VYA."

"I completed my advanced silver service course at SYTA. I recommend it for everyone that want to experience more in the yatching industry and your stewardess skills. I really enjoy my time there it was amazing experience."

"I’ve used VYA twice and each time I have received my desired outcome. The second time with a very limited time frame, but with the assistance of VYA I received everything I required on time. Tatum is a star and anyone could put their trust in the assistance and support of VYA!"

" Five-Star Service from VYA – The Ultimate Yachting Assistant VYA is hands down the best yachting assistant you will ever find. From start to finish, their service is exceptional — professional, reliable, and always tailored to your needs. Their courses are top-notch, offering real value and insight, led by friendly, knowledgeable instructors who truly care about your growth and success. Whether you’re just starting out or advancing your career, you can’t go wrong with VYA. Highly recommended!"

" I did my visa application through VYA, the communication on all the information that they required from me and the step-by-step process as to how everything was going to work was clear and extremely helpful!"

"An Exceptional Learning Experience with Virtual Yacht Assistant. 🙂 I had the pleasure of completing both the Stewardess Course and the Advanced Silver Service Course through Virtual Yacht Assistant, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. These courses, thoughtfully created and taught by Chanel Marais—founder, director, and an absolute powerhouse in the yachting world—are nothing short of exceptional. Chanel isn’t just a teacher; she’s a mentor, a motivator, and a true role model. Her extensive industry experience shines through in every lesson, and her warmth and encouragement make the learning journey all the more enjoyable."

"I recently completed both the Stewardess and Silver Service courses with Virtual Yacht Assistant, and I couldn't be more impressed with the experience! The courses were incredibly well-structured, informative, and practical, covering all the essential skills I need to excel in the yachting industry. The instructors, Kalyn Aschmann and Chanel Marais, with experience in the industry, were very knowledgeable, approachable, and passionate about what they do, making the learning process both enjoyable and highly effective. I feel much more confident in my abilities and am excited to apply what I've learned in a real-world setting. Highly recommend these courses to anyone looking to get into yachting or elevate your skills!""