SWAN UPGRADES TO A FULL-TIME CREW

FEBRUARY 2026 | SWAN NEWSLETTER

Meet Your Crew

Captain Stephen Powell & Hostess Amber King

From this month, our luxury charter experience is entrusted to a dedicated crew of two, chosen for their complementary skills, professionalism, and shared commitment to exceptional service. Together, Captain Stephen Powell and Hostess Amber King create an atmosphere that is relaxed, refined, and effortlessly welcoming.

Captain Stephen Powell leads with decades of maritime and leadership experience, combining world-class seamanship with a refined understanding of luxury hospitality. With over 60,000 nautical miles sailed and extensive charter management expertise, Stephen ensures every aspect of your journey — from navigation and safety to itinerary planning — is handled with precision and care. His calm confidence, deep knowledge of the Caribbean, and passion for storytelling enrich each voyage, whether you’re seeking adventure, cultural discovery, or pure relaxation.

Alongside him, Amber King delivers warm, attentive hospitality that elevates life on board. With years of charter experience across the Caribbean, Amber brings creativity and care to every detail — from fresh, flavourful meals inspired by global cuisines to beautifully presented tables and thoughtful guest touches. Her ability to anticipate needs allows guests to truly unwind, while her experience as a snorkel guide and deckhand ensures smooth, safe days on the water.

Together, Stephen and Amber form a cohesive and welcoming team, offering intuitive service, personalised experiences, and a genuine love of the sea. Their shared goal is simple: to create a charter that feels effortless, enriching, and unforgettable — allowing you to immerse yourself fully in the beauty of The Grenadines.

Captain Stephen Powell

Captain Stephen Powell brings a rare blend of blue-water seamanship, operational excellence, and five-star hospitality to every charter. Raised sailing in Newport Beach, California, Stephen developed an early and instinctive connection to the sea, surrounded by a family of lifeguards, divers, sailors, and pilots.

With over 60,000 nautical miles logged — including two Atlantic and two Indian Ocean crossings — Stephen is a highly experienced ocean sailor holding a USCG 200-Ton Master license, Yachtmaster Ocean certification, and PADI Divemaster qualification.

He is also fluent in Spanish and a licensed pilot. His sailing résumé includes internationally recognised regattas such as the Rolex Swan Series and Copa del Rey.

Before professional yachting, Stephen spent 25 years in real estate development and six years with Four Seasons Hotels, shaping his meticulous approach to leadership, logistics, and guest service. He is widely respected for transforming private yachts into successful charter programs — overseeing compliance, maintenance, crew recruitment, budgeting, and broker relations with integrity and autonomy.

Guests consistently highlight the crew as the standout of their experience, a reflection of Stephen’s calm leadership and positive onboard culture. Owners trust him to protect their investment, while guests appreciate his storytelling, local knowledge, and ability to tailor each voyage into a seamless, memorable journey.

Hostess Amber King

Amber brings warmth, energy, and a genuine passion for hospitality to life on board. Her love of people, travel, and food naturally translates into relaxed, thoughtful service that makes guests feel instantly at home.

With over five years of experience on both private and charter yachts throughout the Caribbean and Bahamas, Amber has worked as a solo stewardess, stew/cook, and second stew on vessels up to 124’. Her background includes one-week term charters, luxury day charters, and high-end private service, where attention to detail and adaptability are essential.

Inspired by the flavours and cultures she has discovered while travelling, Amber enjoys creating fresh, inviting meals and beautifully presented tables — whether it’s a casual beach lunch or an elegant dinner under the stars. She is equally comfortable crafting a signature cocktail, organising provisioning, or ensuring every cabin detail is perfect.

A confident snorkel guide and capable deckhand, Amber also assists with anchoring, lines, fenders, and watch-keeping, offering a true all-round presence onboard. Known for her calm demeanour, anticipation of guest needs, and positive attitude, she brings a seamless balance of professionalism and warmth to every charter.

Sample Menu

Breakfast

Buffet served daily with local fruits, tea and coffee

• Scrambled eggs, bacon, golden hashbrowns, toast, roasted tomatoes

• Greek yoghurt, fruit and granola parfaits with warm rolled oats

• Breakfast sandwich with egg, avocado, arugula, ham and cheese

• Southern-style biscuits with creamy sausage gravy

• Brioche French toast with nutmeg maple syrup and breakfast sausage

• Bagel bar with smoked salmon, eggs, capers, red onion, cream cheese and tomatoes

Lunch

• Grilled Salmon SaladSalmon, Greek orzo with fresh spinach, feta and lemon herb vinaigrette

• Caprese SandwichProsciutto, pesto, tomato, fresh basil and mozzarella served with an arugula salad

• Tuna Poke BowlsSeared tuna, rice, avocado, carrots, cucumber, red cabbage, green onions, ginger, edamame, topped with spicy mayo and ponzu sauce

• Greek GyrosGrilled chicken on pita bread with tomato, onion, lettuce, cucumber and tzatziki, served with herb potatoes

• Smash BurgersDouble beef and cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion on a Kaiser roll with chips

Main

• Baked BranzinoBranzino over Moroccan couscous with lemon-zest green beans

• Grilled Flank SteakFlank steak with homemade chimichurri, rice pilaf and mixed vegetables

• Tuscany Seafood PastaSun-dried tomato and shrimp linguine with side salad

• Green Curry ChickenThai green curry chicken with bamboo shoots and red bell pepper over jasmine rice

• Seared SalmonSeared salmon with mashed potatoes and Mediterranean broccoli salad

• Seafood PaellaChilled gazpacho with seafood paella