yacht reality series

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Below Deck Down Under

Explores the complex, often explosive dynamics of the crew and a rotating group of demanding charter guests on a yacht in northeastern Australia. Explores the complex, often explosive dynamics of the crew and a rotating group of demanding charter guests on a yacht in northeastern Australia. Explores the complex, often explosive dynamics of the crew and a rotating group of demanding charter guests on a yacht in northeastern Australia.

• Jason Chambers
• Aesha Scott
• Culver Bradbury
• 14 User reviews

Episodes 36

• Self - Captain

• Self - Chief Steward

• Self - Deckhand

• Self - Chef

• Self - Steward

• Self - Bosun

• Self - 3rd Steward

• Self - 2nd Officer

• Self - 2nd Steward

• Self - Lead Deckhand
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

Did you know

• Trivia Chef Ryan Mckeown didn't last season one after being rude to the chief stewardess and the charter guests. He also only made basic meals with little to no effort resulting in the captain firing him.
• Connections Spin-off from Below Deck (2013)

User reviews 14

• colleenhughesgratterwb
• Aug 10, 2023
• How many seasons does Below Deck Down Under have? Powered by Alexa
• March 17, 2022 (United States)
• United States
• Official site (Australia)
• Below Deck Australia
• Whitsunday Islands, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia
• 51 Minds Entertainment
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 43 minutes
• 1080i (HDTV)
• 576i (SDTV)

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Below Deck Mediterranean

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Below deck mediterranean after show.

Katie Flood: "I've Never Worked with or Had Anyone That Horrible"

Was Lexi Wilson Pulling Her Weight During Charter? Lexi and the Crew Speak Out

Captain Sandy Yawn: "We're Smoke and Mirrors, We Don't Show Them We're Failing"

Does Lloyd Spencer Regret Being so Vulnerable with His Crewmates?

Katie Flood: "I Was Fuming Inside"

Katie Flood Reacts to the Interior Crew Being Called out for Their "Lack of Attention"

The Below Deck Med Crew on Bringing on Another Stew: "It Definitely Caused Some Anxiety and Worry"

Lexi Wilson Shares Why She Didn't Want to Join the Oktoberfest Party

Katie Flood: "Why the F--- Is This Girl Here!?"

Chief Stew Katie Flood Reacts to New Stew Delaney Evans' Lack of Experience

The Crew Weigh In on the Chaotic Cabin-Switch Situation

Captain Sandy and Chef Mathew React to the Galley Fire

How Aesha Scott Stays Close to Her Boyfriend During the Charter Season

The Below Deck Mediterranean chief stew shed more light on her relationship with Scott “Scotty” Dobson.

Where to Watch and Stream Below Deck Mediterranean Season 9

Athens is about to get a lot more interesting this summer. 

Get Reacquainted with the Other Yachtie Returning Alongside Aesha on Below Deck Med

Elena dubaich returns to below deck med for season 9.

A third familiar face is headed to Athens, Greece for Below Deck Mediterranean Season 9 with Captain Sandy leading the team.

Aesha Scott Returns to Below Deck Mediterranean for Season 9 — Meet the Rest of the Cast

Meet the cast of below deck mediterranean season 9.

See who else will be on board motor yacht Mustique when Below Deck Med Season 9 premieres with Captain Sandy at the helm.

Latest Videos

Your First Look at Below Deck Mediterranean Season 9

Natalya Scudder Reappears for the Crew’s Last Night Out

Start watching the below deck mediterranean season 8 finale.

Max Salvador and Lily Davison Prepare a Foam Party… with No Foam

Captain Sandy Yawn Has Some Very Bad News for the Charter Guests

Jack Luby Invites Natalya Scudder to a Night Out with the Crew

The Crew Is Embarking on Their Last Charter, Sans One Crew Member

Captain Sandy Yawn Accidentally Causes Issues for Luka Brunton

Max Salvador Refuses to Apologize to Captain Sandy Yawn

Lily Davison Is in Charge of Midnight Snacks for the Guests

Kyle Viljoen Being Sick Is Tumi Mhlongo’s “Worst Nightmare”

Jack Luby: “This Is Going to Be the Charter That Breaks Us”

Johnathan Shillingford

Aesha Scott

Iain Maclean

Joe Bradley

Nathan Gallager

Gael Cameron

Elena Dubaich

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About Below Deck Mediterranean

The azure waters and ancient ruins of Athens, Greece set the scene as Capt. Sandy returns to steer her team through a season brimming with fresh and formidable challenges. Between eccentric guests, an abundance of late-night demands that require intervention and a never-before-seen mechanical issue that orders all hands on deck, the crew faces tumultuous waves from the start.       Back on board the 180-foot M/Y Mustique, a series of initial hurdles sets the crew off on the wrong foot. Amidst a saga of delayed provisions, managing a complicated interior department and a medical emergency, Aesha strives to ensure the guests are treated to a five-star service experience. Chef Jono, a self-taught culinary architect, quickly learns he has high expectations to fill to prove his culinary capabilities to the guests. Meanwhile, the deck crew faces its own hurdles and must learn that communication is key in order to successfully get through the season.      This season’s boatmances stir up waves of tension as two crewmates find themselves with their sights set on a mutual love interest causing disruptions among departments. A personal relationship also tests a deckhand’s budding romance, leading them to make a tough decision.       Finally, to round out the season, Capt. Sandy orchestrates the surprise of a lifetime for her partner, Leah, that leaves everyone in tears.   

Below Deck Sailing Yacht: Season Four; Bravo Reveals Reality Show’s Premiere Date and Cast

by Regina Avalos, March 20, 2023

Below Deck Sailing Yacht has been renewed for a fourth season, and Bravo has now announced the cast and premiere date for the reality series return. Captain Glenn Shephard, Daisy Kelliher, Gary King, and Colin MacRae are set to return in season four and will be joined by new crew members.

Bravo revealed more about the new series in a press release.

“ Below Deck Sailing Yacht ” season four premieres on Monday, April 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo and is available to stream next day on Peacock. Returning this season are Capt. Glenn Shephard and veteran department heads Daisy Kelliher (Chief Stew), Gary King (First Mate) and Colin MacRae (Chief Engineer). New crew members include Chef Ileisha Dell, stews Lucy Edmunds and Mads Herrera and deckhands Chase Lemacks and Alex Propson. “Below Deck Sailing Yacht” is produced by 51 Minds with Mark Cronin, Courtland Cox, Vivian Kohon, Tania Hamidi, Christian Sarabia and Zachary Klein serving as executive producers. UPCOMING THIS SEASON Capt. Glenn and his comeback team Daisy Kelliher, Gary King and Colin MacRae resume their responsibilities aboard Parsifal III, along with new, dynamic crew members, as they set sail in Sardinia, Italy. Capt. Glenn realizes that his laid-back leadership style has allowed his crew to become too comfortable and starts taking charge of quality control in the interior department, much to Daisy’s dismay. In the galley, Chef Ileisha’s cooking impresses the guests, but her indecisiveness and co-dependency lead to time-management issues between courses, which causes her to self-destruct. On deck, strong personalities collide, and a power struggle results in a near mutiny, as Gary clashes with his new overconfident deckhand, Chase. Two overlapping love triangles further complicate the dynamics on-board, and a shocking hookup puts Colin, Daisy and Gary’s friendship in jeopardy. With a near collision, fire, crew rebellion, gruesome guest injury and two different potentially season-ending engine failures, this is the most captivating and unpredictable season yet of “Below Deck Sailing Yacht.”

Check out a sneak peek at this reality series below.

What do you think? Are you excited about the return of this Below Deck series on Bravo?

Check out our status sheets to track new TV series pickups, renewals, and cancellations. You can find lists of cancelled shows here .

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Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Watch full episodes of below deck sailing yacht, watch below deck sailing yacht season 4, worst vacation ever, the king is back, hate me tender, clash and burn, smoke on the water, cheers to boobies, loose lips sink friendships, burnt hands and broken hearts, let them eat cake, t-bone with stakes, hurricane bonnie, she loves me not, boat load of throuples, man buns it has been fun, reunion, part 1 (uncensored & extended), reunion, part 2 (uncensored & extended), related clips, you may also like, frequently asked questions.

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Below Deck secrets: The reality series that went from hard sell to selling charters

Kate Lardy finds out how the hit reality TV show about yacht crew drama went from hard sell to selling charters.

Rebecca Taylor Henning was on holiday in St Martin and having dinner with her family when she began eavesdropping on the table of yacht crew next to her, hearing the angst of a stewardess who was falling in love with the mate and deliberating whether to tell the captain.

“It was Below Deck unfolding before my eyes,” says Taylor Henning, who worked on yachts as a second stewardess and mate before making a career in television. Befriending that crew was the impetus she needed to pitch a reality TV show centred around superyacht crew. It was an opportunity that US production company 51 Minds couldn’t pass up. And just like that, the carefully constructed veil of privacy that surrounds superyachts was breached.

Many in the close-knit yachting world were none too happy about it. “When we started making cold calls, we were shut right down,” says Taylor Henning, who was co-executive producer for season one of the show.

“People told me that my little TV show would be the downfall of the multibillion-dollar yachting industry,” says yacht chef Adrienne Gang, who worked with 51 Minds on the sizzle reel that sold the show to American TV network Bravo and appeared on the first season as chief stewardess. “After the show aired, I was terrified to go to the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show. There was such an uproar about it!”

Eight years later, the superyacht industry is still ticking along, as is Below Deck , which raked in 1.13 million viewers in June 2021 when the latest season of Below Deck Mediterranean aired. The series has also celebrated the launch of other spin-offs including Below Deck Sailing Yacht which premiered in early 2020, and an Australian and adventure charter series both set to debut and 2022.

Filmed over a period of six weeks, the show brings on a new set of guests every few days. The producers never tell the cast what to say or do, but crew nights out between charters, where alcohol flows copiously, are mandatory. It’s a high-pressure environment bound to unleash the drama that is the backbone of any successful reality show.

How real is this reality? Very, say crew members who’ve been involved with the show. “Anybody who tells you none of those things happen on yachts is lying,” says Gang. “There are always love triangles, insubordination, people getting too drunk, people not doing what they’re supposed to be doing, crazy charter guests – all of those things are real… Just not all on the same boat in the same six-week period.”

Ross Inia had plenty of experience working on charter yachts when he agreed to be part of season six. The New Zealand native had not been home in four years and the show’s filming location in Tahiti was the selling point. “My [thinking] was to go on there, do the job, make some money and go back to New Zealand,” he says.

He found the experience true to life – and a lot of fun. “I’ve been in the industry and what you see on television is happening in real life,” he says, although he acknowledges that personalities clash a bit more on television than they do on boats.

Whereas captains hire crew members who focus on synergy, the show hires an ensemble cast with a wide range of personalities and backgrounds, says Shari Levine, Bravo’s executive vice-president of current production. “Some may be more assertive than others or have a specific way they like to lead or be led, and we see that all play out on the show.”

All of which concerned Kim Vibe-Petersen before his 54-metre Perini Navi Parsifal III became the star of the first season of Below Deck Sailing . “At first, we didn’t want to do it,” he says. “We thought maybe this was the wrong signal to send out to the market and that it could disturb the very good reputation that Parsifal III has.” But persistence won out. “They kept on asking and asking and we came to an agreement.”

He considered changing the yacht’s name for the show, but later changed his mind, acknowledging that name recognition might be good for a charter yacht, even one as successful as Parsifal III . “We were a little nervous that the series would be too extreme, but it turned out to be pretty good. You have to understand it gives a different image to your boat, but, of course, they cannot film all 18 episodes and just have quiet charters. Something has to happen.”

Below Deck Sailing featured Vibe-Petersen’s captain of 13 years, Glenn Shephard, and some of his crew instead of an entire cast of talented actors. Two of the yacht’s guest cabins were converted into studios for the film crew. Shephard says he found the cameras “weird” at first, but got used to them after a couple of days and got on with running the boat just like he would in any other charter season. “It’s not totally like it is in reality,” says Vibe-Petersen. “The crew is jumping around in our Jacuzzi and all over the boat. That part of it is maybe a little overdone.”

Bobby Genovese, owner of 46-metre Feadship BG , says he’d rather not know what goes on. His boat has been on three seasons of Below Deck , but Genovese says he’s never seen an episode, and when someone tries to start a conversation about something that happened on the show, he shuts it down. When 51 Minds approached him with the idea, what convinced him was that filming fell during ski season.

“I don’t use the boat those six weeks. They paid me a million dollars, they fixed the damage that [they caused], my crew got the opportunity to have time off, and it made sense for me.” In the end, “the overall feeling was it was good for the boat, and everybody had an enjoyable experience”. BG , however, had the stage name Valor as Genovese didn’t want his boat associated with the show.

The owner of Ohana (now Rhino ), Jim Glidewell, had no such qualms. The 46-metre Admiral Marine appeared under her own name, and the exposure even attracted a buyer. He has nothing but good things to say about the experience. “Bravo has this down to a science. It doesn’t go rough at all. It’s very well done. [TV] Captain Lee handled it great, but I had a first mate and an engineer on board for backup [who were not shown on television].” He’s hoping to repeat the experience with one of his two current superyachts in a future season. “I think if people don’t take that charter money, they’re wrong.”

Glidewell has seen some of the shows and, like Vibe-Petersen, says the charterers are not like his yacht’s typical guests – he calls them “adult spring breakers”. Guests pay to be there like any other charter, says Bravo’s Levine. “How they choose to interact with the crew is up to them, and while some charter guests are wonderful and gracious, some are not.”

Yacht broker Shannon McCoy, of Worth Avenue Yachts , was one of the gracious ones. Invited by her clients, she’s appeared in two episodes. “Even though there are cameras everywhere and you’re being mic’ed, it is very much like a real charter,” she says. “Everybody treats you based on your preference sheets. Nothing is scripted for the guests.”

Her second time on the show, in Tahiti, was her favourite. “The weather was perfect, the group of people we had was great, and we did every water sport and activity that we could that was offered by My Seanna (now Starship ). You don’t ever see any of the drama that happens below deck.” So, while the bosun was struggling to communicate with his deck team and the third stewardess was feeling ostracised by the chief and second stews, “we had zero idea”, says McCoy.

Jerry Purcell, a guest with McCoy in Tahiti, says some in their group were bothered by the microphones and cameras, but he quickly forgot about them. “They kind of just go away in the background,” says Purcell, who owns a 21-metre yacht that occasionally charters. He came on the show to see how a large yacht charter unfolds and as a fan.

The franchise seems to have found particular appeal with the charter crowd. “I have a lot of charter clients that watch the show and take it for what it is, and they’ve become big fans – huge,” says Jennifer Saia, president of B&B Yacht Charters.

“Our guests are Below Deck crazy,” says Victoria Allman, chef on a 50-metre motor yacht. “The stews have overheard their comments at the table: ‘Don’t do this, or do it this way; the crew on Below Deck hate it when…’ In a weird way it has helped us,” she says. “One guest even brought their own steamer because the girls on the show hate being stuck in the laundry.”

As a treat for the guests, Allman once orchestrated a surprise visit from Kate Chastain, the chief stewardess who rose to fame over six seasons. “The stories she told about how hard they work during the shoot amazed me. They still have to turn the boat around, do the laundry, provision, etc, as well as sitting for interviews and dodging camera crews,” she says. “There is no ‘extra’ stew making sure all the grunt work gets done while the stars are being filmed. If I work 16 hours a day, they must be doing so much more than that. We as a crew should have a lot more respect for how hard they are working.”

There is still some stigma around the show, but the tide is turning. “It has become a talking point for people in the industry instead of ‘We don’t want to acknowledge it exists,’” says Gang. 

It helps that the show has enticed new charterers instead of turning them off. “I know it has had a good effect on the charter market,” says McCoy. “I personally have booked charters from being on the show.”

It has also attracted new crew. “There’s definitely been an uptick in crew applications. It has brought more American crew into yachting; some are doing very well,” says Joanne Damgaard, crew placement agent at Bluewater .

The prevailing sentiment in the early years was that anyone who appeared on the show would never work in yachting again. Thankfully that has been proven wrong, with many cast members returning to charter work. Gang says there may have been a handful of yachts that turned her down because they recognised her from the show, but she’s had no trouble finding work among her extensive network. And speaking to BOAT International from his job as mate on a 35 metre, Inia says his Below Deck stint hasn’t affected his career at all.

So, while some in the industry – like the captain of a superyacht who binge-watched the entire franchise during Covid-19 lockdown – will never accept the show as a representation of yachting, that might be beside the point. “It’s supposed to be entertainment, take your mind off the trials and tribulations of your day and show you some place maybe you haven’t been before,” says Captain Lee, the show’s most famous face.“It’s also brought awareness to a lot of people who have money and never knew you could charter a yacht like that. It’s a whole new world for them.”

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In 'Below Deck,' life on a yacht meets reality TV

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Captain Sandy Yawn leads the crew on Below Deck Mediterranean. Laurent Basset/Bravo hide caption

Captain Sandy Yawn leads the crew on Below Deck Mediterranean.

If you've always wondered what it would be like to see the world while making espresso martinis for the super-rich, you might already be watching the Below Deck franchise. For the past eight years, the Bravo reality series and its many spinoffs have been showing viewers the world of deckhands and chefs, housekeeping and party planning, as young hot people work on luxury yachts chartered by people who have too much money.

“Below Deck” — The Netflix Binge Cruisers Will Love

Doug Parker

• October 20, 2020

Netflix is known for introducing binge-worthy content to the platform.

And the latest has to be “Below Deck” — a reality series that came to Netflix in the form of two seasons in August 2020.

But the show itself was filmed way back in 2013 and has a total of 7 seasons and 105 episodes.

So why are people raving about the show? 

It’s a glimpse into a luxury escape — and the drama onboard

Below Deck follows the lives of crew members who live and work onboard a mega-yacht.

Season one follows the likes of Captain Lee Rosback, First Officer Aleks Taldykin, Chief Stewardess Adriene Gang, Second Engineer C.J. LeBeau, Chef Ben Robinson and Deckhand David Bradberry in their everyday working and personal lives onboard the 164-foot Honor .

The first release of the series averaged 1.4 million total viewers per episode.

All of the crew that is hired to be part of the show are licensed and certified, which involves a two-week course.

Captain Lee says: “ Each of the crew members has to have an STCW, which is a standard set by the maritime industry for watch-keeping and just being on board—it’s basic first aid, firefighting. It’s a two-week course and a certification they have to have before they’re allowed to work on yachts.”

The crew is filmed 24 hours a day , seven days a week working on the boat while being filmed by both hidden cameras and a crew. 

But what makes the show so addictive? 

For reality TV lovers, Below Deck is one of those shows with a brand that is instantly bingeable. This is because of the on-screen romances, drama, and professional and personal turmoils that are captured on screen.

Noah Samton, the senior vice president of the production for Bravo says that the yachting industry “attracts the kind of people that are good for TV. First of all, they’re a lot of young, attractive people. A lot of people that are sort of escaping their lives for some reason or have this adventurous streak in them. We’re really good at finding the people who are going to wear it on their sleeves.” 

And as with other reality TV shows, the cameras capture it all, sharing every aspect of their lives onboard.

The only place that they aren’t filmed is in the bathroom, but only one crew member can be in one at any given time.

Members have tried to get away with their personal antics being held in places without a camera — in one instance, a laundry room — but the crew quickly clocks on.

It’s this close look into their lives, combined with the personalities and the exotic locations, that make Below Deck so exciting to watch.

How is the show really filmed? Here are some of the secrets

When the show was first released there were some questions from fans about how ‘real’ the working lives were of those on screen. But the cast actually work as real-life stewards, sometimes up to 16+ hours a day, and sleep on tiny bunks.

T he charter company actually pays each cast member a base salary; the cast is also paid an appearance fee by the production company. And they’re allowed to take tips by guests. All their food is provided by the boat’s chef, as would be in the case if they were regular employees. 

The cast is not allowed to speak to, or interact with, the production team and cameraman in order to keep in line with the show’s guidelines. 

Captain Lee is actually in charge of the boat, including when and where they can sail and anything that needs to be considered in terms of the weather. He can also fire anyone at any time. Production is not allowed to have any influence on this.

The boat costs upwards of $300,000 per week to hire — which is why all filming is done during the six-week period. 

All cast members get three days off per season during the six weeks of filming on the boat. They can stay in a hotel room on those days, but they’re not allowed to communicate with each other. 

There are also advantages for the guests on the boat, as they are given a fifty percent discount on their journey — although they pay their own money to rent the boat and for their tips.

What’s the future for Below Deck?

So far, Netflix has releases only two series of the show, but we can expect more. For the ones that can’t get the show’s pristine sceneries out of their mind, sites like borrowaboat.com have boats and yachts for every taste available to rent, perfect to recreate the sailing lifestyle.

While there are only two series so far released by Netflix, we can expect more. And the new Below Deck season eight will likely premiere sometime in the fall of 2020.

With eight seasons now, it’s likely that there could be more in the future and that audiences will be able to continue to enjoy the drama-filled lives of those who work below deck and onboard the ship.

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What happened to Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 5? Here’s what we know

What happened to Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 5? That’s the question on fans’ minds after it was revealed Below Deck Med Season 9 will air following Below Deck Season 11.

Ever since Below Deck Sailing Yacht premiered on Bravo, it has followed the OG show.

That’s the way it’s been for the past four years, except for last year when Below Deck Down Under Season 2 aired after Below Deck Sailing Yacht.

So why all of a sudden is there a switch in the schedule, especially since Below Deck Med Season 8 just ended in January?

Let’s take a look at what we know.

What happened to Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 5?

The reason for the change-up likely has to do with the sexual misconduct allegations that came out against Gary King after Season 5 of Below Deck Sailing Yacht was filmed.

Leaked photos revealed that Daisy Kelliher and Gary were back for another stint aboard Parsifal III with Captain Glenn. The two of them returning was music to fans’ ears as they helped make Below Deck Sailing Yacht a huge success with Colin MacRae.

However, a couple of weeks later, news broke that a member of the production team came out via Rolling Stone to accuse Gary of unwanted sexual advances and harassment. Gary was soon removed from the BravoCon 2023 list, making clear Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 5 could be in trouble.

Unlike when Peter Hunziker was fired by Bravo for a racist post and then edited out of the season, Gary has not been fired from the show. Plus, editing Gary out really wouldn’t be an option because he plays such a pivotal role and makes a good story even if fans don’t like him.

All of this means that what would have been Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 5 could be scrapped. Should that be the case, a new season of the sailing show won’t air for a long time.

Then again, maybe the powers that be are still trying to figure out how to save the season with Gary, and they just need more time.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht fans share thoughts on schedule change

A Reddit thread devoted to the Below Deck Med and Below Deck Sailing Yacht swap had fans buzzing.

“I would absolutely be okay with a delay if it means not having to watch Gary. I’m not sure I’ll even watch if he’s on it, especially since Colin isn’t. And Glenn the enabler has went from being best captain to #3 now…,” wrote one user.

Another admitted to liking the sailing show with Daisy but could do without Gary and would be fine if Season 5 never aired.

“AS IT SHOULD BE. Bravo needs to learn- you hire racists, you hire sexual abusers, you’re going to lose money. The end.” was another remark.

A different user doesn’t think the season will air and noticed Daisy switched her Instagram bio, so that may be a clue that Season 5 will never see the light of day. There was also speculation that Below Deck spin-offs will soon be combined for money reasons.

“That is a possibility or they’re still editing the heck out of it to reduce his role as much as possible but that has got to be a monumental task. I doubt they’d scrub an entire season but maybe more things have come out behind the scenes we’re unaware of and they have to do what they have to do especially with all the negative publicity they’re getting with Andy Cohen lately.” declared another user.

Along with Below Deck Sailing Yacht being pushed back, Below Deck Down Under fate seems to be up in the air. As Monsters and Critics previously reported, Captain Jason Chambers asked for fans’ help with Season 3.

Be sure to keep checking back for more news on th e Below Deck franchise.

Below Deck Med Season 9 premieres on Monday, June 3 at 9/8c on Bravo. Below Deck Sailing Yacht is currently on hiatus on Bravo.

Screen Rant

How below deck crew life differs from real-world yachting careers.

Below Deck is an unscripted reality show following a yacht crew, but the Bravo TV series isn't quite an accurate depiction of a yachtie's real life.

The life of a yachtie as depicted on  Below Deck   is a bit different than what a yacht crew experiences in real life. The  Below Deck  series is all about drama , whether it is partying too hard or catching feelings too quickly. The yachties onboard know how to keep things interesting and even make the idea of working on a multimillion-dollar boat appealing. However, the yachting reality series isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. According to the crew, it's not even the same as working on a yacht in real life.

Below Deck  follows a yacht crew and its captain as they sail the open waters whilst trying to give charter guests a memorable experience. Such experiences include five-star service from both the chef and the crew and entertainment, including the water toys. When someone’s every move is being filmed, certain things are added to make the show more entertaining. In the case of the crews featured on Below Deck , certain moments are made slightly more dramatic on both the guest and employee side. So, no, yacht crews aren’t always incredibly attractive. 

Related:  Below Deck: Why Chef Ben Robinson Will Never Return To The Show

As far as the crew goes, the show differs from real life in that Bravo doesn’t create a show out of a pre-existing ship and crew (well, sort of). When the owner of a yacht agrees to take part in the series, the producers get to decide who gets to come aboard, excluding the captain, engineer, and first officer. Captain Lee of Below Deck has accused the network in the past of selecting people who are inept when it comes to this type of work, thus shading the realism of who’s really qualified when watching the series. 

Some things that appear one way onscreen are actually an illusion. For example, when the chief stew is showing charter guests their living quarters, she doesn't show them the true master suite. An interview with  The New York Times   revealed that the executive producers of the show take control of that master suite, making it their control room. Guests are also given a discount on the price of their trip for agreeing to be on the show since they really are going on a vacation. In addition, the charter season on  Below Deck  is much shorter than a real-life yachting season (via  Cheat Sheet ).  While a normal charter season lasts about six months,  a  Below Deck  season only lasts around six weeks. 

There are things that aren’t scripted for the show. Working on a yacht really is a 24/7 job of constant upkeep and cleaning. The crew will often take advantage of their nights to explore and party off the boat. Everyone is also hooking up, regardless of if they’re a guest or not. As long as the captain doesn’t find out, it’s fair game. Finally, when viewers watch a crewmate walk off the boat, they’re allowed. Unlike a typical contract job, this job comes with a daily rate pay that is invoiced, meaning there’s no obligation to stay. While  Below Deck  might not perfectly portray real-life yachting, it gets pretty close.

Next:  Every Season Of Below Deck, Ranked From Worst To Best

Source:  The New York Times ,  Cheat Sheet

Below Deck: Superyacht Reality TV

People have been saying for a long time that yachts would make a great reality show, so it’s no real surprise that the day has finally arrived: Tonight in the US, yachting reality show ‘Below Deck’ screens on Bravo TV. With episode titles like “Luggage, luggage, everywhere” and “Dude, that’s a dude, dude”, I’m guessing it’s not aimed at the intellectual end of the market.   I lost 24 brain cells just watching the trailer. See the trailier  here . 

When the idea for a reality show got floated (sorry) a few years back, there was an outpouring of vitriol on Dockwalk by yachting professionals deeply concerned that such a show would damage the industry.  And now that the show is being launched (sorry), the vitriol is back, as many people see this show as a threat: a threat to the image of the yachting industry, one that will imperil the golden rule of discretion and make yacht owners and guests view crew and yachting differently.   

Of course the ‘reality’ is dubious.  Crewed by actors and yacht crew who want to be famous, and chartered by wannabe actors who want to be famous, and edited and produced by people who want to be famous… well, it’s safe to say that the ‘reality’ of yachting will be the first victim.  That’s not to say that there won’t be situations portrayed in it that we have all actually encountered in our jobs on yachts (the producer worked as a stewardess for 3 seasons, and there are three yacht crew in the cast), but people do not act naturally while surrounded by a film crew. And even if they do let their real selves out on occasion, the final cut is made by people who want sensationalism and spectacle.  This is for telly, after all.  No one wants to watch a stewardess clean a cabin for 3 days to the sound of Rihanna on repeat. Not least because of Rihanna.

This morning, The New York Times has published an article on the series entitled “Who wants to sail with this ship of trolls?”  It’s not a glowing review, to put it mildly, calling the show ‘bland’ and the guests ‘insufferable’ , concluding that, “It’s a good thing the earth is flat, because that means the Honor, the yacht that is the focus of the new Bravo reality series ‘Below Deck’ is bound to sail over the edge someday. That would presumably relieve us of the obligation to pay any further attention to the people on it.”

The show was shot during a 5 week Caribbean charter on the 50m Cour de Leone, which was renamed ‘M/Y Honour’ for the show.  The original crew were given time off, although the captain Lee Rosbach, the first mate and the engineer stayed on board (but not as characters in the show) to ensure the boat stayed in one piece.  And 9 ‘crew’ were brought in in their place, only 3 of them with any yachting experience.  And this alone allows people to dismiss the show as unrealistic, with real captain Lee Rosbach admitting in an interview with The Triton . "They pretty much acted like crew I would have fired- they were all in way over their heads. There were a couple that worked really hard and might have made good entry level crew.” Might have made good entry level crew?  Oh dear. 

Show co-producer Rebecca explained the casting choice by saying, “The original crew were perfect, but we had to bring in new crew that we’d screened, as we couldn’t be sure that the other crew weren’t convicted felons or wouldn’t punch the cameraman.  Oh, now this smacks of disingenuity. Yacht crew aren’t well known for punching people on board, and criminal records are, well, records. Not difficult to check. Of course, what she isn’t saying here is that most professional yacht crew wouldn’t touch this show with a boat hook and a sturdy pair of Marigolds.

This excuse allowed the introduction of a merry cast of TV-worthy characters running around in hilariously tight blue polos. The bios on the show’s website  are comedy gold, as it sounds like they have been written by either the cast themselves, a small child, or a shoddy dating website.  We have the chief stewardess Adrienne Gang,’ a veteran of the yacht industry’, who lives by the philosophy ‘work hard, play hard’. Original.  Other useful facts are that she once wanted to be a doctor and used to tour with rock bands.  The fake captain, who looks remarkably like he is made of plastic, has had a love of the water since a young age (jolly good), while CJ LeBeau (yes, that is his name) is an Eagle Scout and a philanthropist, but he has a rebellious side as well . He also, you might like to know,  “gets out of most sticky situations with his witty flirtation and likeable personality.”  Snort. We have the chef, who enjoys the bachelor lifestyle, and a stewardess called Kat who is a ‘jokester’ , ‘life of the party’ enjoys snowboarding and has been through the Panama Canal. Riveting.  Oh, Bravo TV, bravo for giving me a giggle.  And of course we have a gay ex-Marine. Openly gay crew members are increasingly seen on yachts, and rightly so.  But to imply that they are represented on each yacht is a fallacy. And then we also have Sam, the stewardess who has a degree in industrial engineering, a degree which apparently separates her from the typical “uneducated yachty (sic) drifter”.  She prides herself on her leadership abilities, which is a shame really as she’s not chief stew, and going by the episode descriptions this causes some drama.  I’ll stop now, but really, these bios are tremendous fun.

As for the guests, they actually are paying charter guests.  An ad was run by Bravo TV requesting people who might like to be on a show, but will have to pay for the privilege to cover the charter fee. 50 000 dollars each, according to the original ad.  Not your typical charter guest then, but Americans who want to be famous.  

“Oh, it wasn’t scripted,” said one guest on a forum. "We just did what we wanted and they filmed us.” For my part I believe it wasn’t scripted, simply because on the advertisement we have some woman lying on a deckchair waving languorously at one of the crew and saying in a strident American accent, “Can you remove this part of the ship for me?” The ship? The ship? No genuine charter guest, past, present or future, has called a yacht a ship. They never miss the opportunity to say the word yacht, (preferably in a very loud voice).  But while it may not have been scripted, it was most certainly directed, and by its very nature with a bunch of cameramen and fake cast, unreal.

This unrealistic portrayal is making some yacht crew nervous, and others angry. From what I can see, the objections fall into several categories.

1. A strange anger at the ‘real’ crew involved.   The forums are alive with jeers about them never getting hired again, and ‘how to kill your career 101.” Let’s dispense with this one quickly with a quick question: ‘Who cares if they get hired again?’ That’s not an objection to the show itself, it is of absolutely no consequence to anyone but the crew themselves, and they have made their beds.    

2. That these people make yachting look unprofessional to the outside world. One yacht chef wailed that the food looked terrible (despite the NYT saying otherwise), and felt that no-one would take his job as a superyacht chef seriously anymore.  Another sniffed that deck crew would never be allowed to have their hair so unruly on a real yacht, while another was unhappy that during the course of filming the crew were in the tender, shirtless. You know, there may be a few viewers out there in middle America who will base their view of yachting on this show, but anyone who watches reality TV thinking it is reality is a dimwit and for one, I don’t care what a dimwit thinks about yachting, or anything else, for that matter.

3. That the ‘secret is out!”  Ah, and ain’t that the truth. We may even be overrun by young people wanting to get into the industry.   This is not the end of the world. In fact it’s very good for crew houses, training schools and bars.  There are only so many jobs, and captains can pretty easily sort the wheat from the chav – I mean chaff.  

4. The most overwhelming objection is that yacht owners, charterers and potential charterers will be deterred from chartering a yacht because of this show.   Oh, poppycock.  As captain Rosbach says, “I don’t know why people are taking this show so seriously. I don’t think billionaires sit around watching Bravo TV.”  Even if they did, I’m certain they’re not thinking, Oh, I may not charter this year because a low-budget reality show was made about it where the guests were difficult and the crew ran around like monkeys trying to shag each other, crying and drinking. (Ok, so maybe there’s some truth to this show after all.)  Otherwise we’d all be watching ‘Airport’ and thinking, Oh, best not catch a plane again, as someone has made a show about difficult passengers, and then people will think that I am difficult, because I too, on occasion, catch planes.’ 

Anyway, even if the portrayal of difficult guests is spot-on, then real yacht owners and guests won’t recognise themselves in them, because the human ego is protected by a thick wall of self-delusion, making it difficult for us to recognise our own bad behaviour.  For example, I have had a very difficult guest look at me sympathetically and say with no trace of irony,  “Gosh, you must get some really difficult guests sometimes , not like us, hey.”

Anyone who has ever owned or chartered a yacht, or is seriously planning to, are already aware that this is an industry of professionals, working their buttocks off, being discrete, going the extra 40 miles for yak milk and creating an extraordinary experience for them.  Because that is the truth.  And that truth won’t change, no matter how many ‘reality’ TV shows are made on the subject.  People who treat their crew well will continue to do so, and those that don’t care at all what the crew, or world in general, think of them, will continue not to care. If it stops a single person from chartering, I would be very surprised.

5. That discretion is dead.   That the hallmark of the industry-that crew won’t talk- is in jeopardy.  The point is, most still won’t, but as the industry grows, and more issues are being discussed on forums such as these and in magazines, it is inevitable that some stories will come out.

So then, are there any positives? 

This show can’t be considered particularly harmful, but few would say it’s beneficial to the yachting industry.  But perhaps there are a few potential positives to this show being screened, other than stopping people back home asking us if we work on cruise ships.

1. If the show has a shred of credibility about it, it will deliver on its promise of showing the hard work and exhaustion that yachting requires. It may, just may, prepare a few wannabe stewardesses for the reality of the task ahead- the bed-making, the cleaning, the kow-towing.   Despite the wealth of information now available about what to expect, you still come across the oblivious hopefuls, like the young and shiny job-seeker I met last year who asked me, “There’s isn’t really much cleaning involved, is there? I know there’s a little bit, but it’s mostly service, isn’t it?  I really hate cleaning toilets, it’s gross, I hope I don’t have to do much of that.”(Evil old goat that I am, I really enjoyed bursting that bubble.)

2. On the small boat end of the scale, perhaps the greater exposure of yachts may lead to a few more charters.  Doubtful, but possible.

3. A portrayal of crew as actual people might lead the guests to realise they are being judged, and that they do not have complete carte blanche to act as they please.  I know that many yachties, perhaps the majority, would place this argument in the negatives, rather than positives section, but this leads to my next point.

Is there a place for  superyacht stories in the mainstream media, and how dangerous is it? 

There is perhaps a greater issue here. The secret is out. The media have the scent, and superyacht stories are selling papers. Last week, an article in The Guardian , about superyachts and training courses unleashed an absolute storm of rich-bashing in the online comments.  This is a concern, because when the media focus on the sensational, the reality is lost.  That is not to say that I don’t agree that the sheer excess of the industry is sometimes offensive, but as the entire industry is based on sheer excess, it is a difficult objection to rationally sustain as long as you work on, or around superyachts.  They are the ultimate unnecessary item, a floating testament to wealth and success. And hundreds of thousands of people are employed by them, and in the shipyards, the crew agencies, the machinery manufacturers…the list goes on.  They pump enormous amounts of money into economies, they pay our wages and buy us houses.  Looking at that, it is difficult to maintain the rage.

However, this is not to say that, in my opinion, some media attention is necessarily a bad thing, if handled with sensitivity.   There are issues in yachting that I think are worth discussing: violence, sexual harassment, and sexual depravity. I’m not talking here about rudeness of guests, or prostitution, but about abuse of power. 

The typical line of yacht crew tends to be that yacht guests charter a yacht with the sense that they have carte blanche, that this is a place where they can depend on privacy while they behave how  they like, and that yacht crew should indulge them, without judgement.  For the most part, this is true. But not always.

Many years ago, I quit my first yacht when the Madame split one of the Filipino’s noses open with a shoe because a dress fell off the hanger in her dressing room when we were at sea. The next day, the Madame grabbed the same girl by the throat, and in the year after I left, she put her in hospital with internal injuries after a beating.  According to a crew member, the captain had accompanied the Madame on a trip to the Philippines, where this girl and another had been bought off their families with a suitcase of money.  She couldn’t leave:  she was a 21 st century slave.

There is a story there, not about yachting per se but about vast wealth and the abuse of power.  I worked on a yacht where on one charter, the principal threw a prostitute down the stairs. Another friend tells me that on her old boat, young Indian boys were brought on for the boss’ pleasure. On another, the guest was Islam Gadaffi.  How do yacht crew handle serving a man politely who was allegedly responsible for massacres and torture?  In yachting, political ignorance is bliss.  But these issues- where our moral line is, and how often we move it, are things that yacht crew must consider.  And if a yacht guest holds back from awful behaviour because they feel that they may be judged or reported?  I say that’s a win. 

That is why I say the subjects must be handled with extreme sensitivity, by careful writers, who know that this is not common in yachting, but can and does happen.  But any fair commentary also includes the wonderful stuff- the nice owners, the extraordinary opportunities, the sheer adventure of it all. 

But the journalist in me, and the moralist, believes that stories need to be told that are bigger than yachting.  No place on earth is a moral vacuum, not even a superyacht, no matter how much money you pay for it.  Or no place I want to live in, anyway. 

So yes, the secret is out, and not all media coverage will be favourable.  Some of it will be written by hacks caring little for the consequences. If you want to be worried about something, be worried about that. 

But ‘Below Deck’? One thing is certain: there is no grave danger to the industry in this show. It is a show, and will not change our reality. 

The cover has been blown off the porthole. And now we wait for the waves.  ‘Below Deck’ may not bring them, but something will. 

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Comment by: Timothy Valentine - 8 Nov 2021, 23:31 (2 years ago)

Despite the demerits of the show, it hit me on good side, so I feel I wanna join the industry.

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‘Below Deck Sailing Yacht’s’ Daisy Kelliher Is the Best Chief Stew

By Marlow Stern

Marlow Stern

“You’ll have to bear with me,” offers Daisy Kelliher in her canorous Irish accent. “I’m in Antigua on a very small sailboat.”

I’m on a Zoom call with Daisy, indefatigable chief stewardess of Parsifal III on Below Deck Sailing Yacht , who’s on a sailboat sitting on a small bed in a tiny cabin — not unlike the ones she rooms in on the hit series. But Daisy’s not on the job. She’s in the midst of a two-and-a-half-week vacation with her parents that will take them to Antigua and then to Saint Martin.

Daisy hails from a yachting family — both her parents were yachties — and has not only emerged as the star of Below Deck Sailing Yacht , whose fourth season is now airing on Bravo and Peacock, but is also, in this writer’s opinion, the finest chief stew in Below Deck history (with apologies to Hannah Ferrier, whose Below Deck Med tenure was cruelly cut short by Captain Sandy the Narc).

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“I’m proud to have come out alive,” Daisy says. (Still, she’d be happy to do it again.)

Rolling Stone caught up with Daisy to discuss Season Four of Below Deck Sailing Yacht and what makes the show so damn addictive.

Congrats on a new season of Below Deck Sailing Yacht . What compelled you to return? [ Laughs ] Ah, yeah, that’s a good question! I have a love/hate relationship with the whole experience, but the positives outweigh the negatives. Overall, I have a really good time. The third time’s the charm. I do question why I keep going back, but I do enjoy the whole process. We’re blessed in the way it’s not a normal job. Other jobs you need to give a year, two-year commitment, but I just come in for six weeks, deal with the chaos, you know there’s a timeline, and that keeps you going. And it’s rewarding to overcome the challenges. At the end of it you’re like, wow, we did that. We worked all those hours, on all those hangovers, dealt with all those crazy guests. It’s satisfying at the end of it.

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I’ve always wondered if you all actually get any good sleep in those tiny bunks. You’re so crammed together, and the beds look so small. I love the tiny bunks! I have slept in tiny bunks now for so long that I don’t sleep that well in my big bunk. I like the company. It took a little while to get used to when I first joined boats, but it’s been so long now — even to the point of liking the comfort of having someone else breathe. I now have an apartment in London, but when I used to go on holiday, rent a hotel room, and stay in the bed by myself, I really, really would struggle to sleep. It’s all about habits. I went to boarding school as well, and shared a room at times with my sister, so it was really nothing unusual for me.

Are you stew-ing year-round, or what do you do the other 46 weeks of the year for work? The first two seasons of Below Deck I did chief stew-ing, so I would freelance. This year, I’m taking more of a break, settling into my apartment in London, and spending more time with family and friends. I’m always open to the work if people need help. It’s super easy for me to hop on a boat for a couple of weeks and chief stew, but I’m trying to do less of it as I get older.

So, Parsifal crashed into a dock in Season Two and ran aground in Season Three. What’s the wildest shit to happen this season? The first couple of episodes we don’t leave the dock, and that continues throughout the season. There are periods where the engine keeps acting up, and we’re left wondering if we’ll ever leave the dock. We also almost drag anchor again and crash into another boat. [ Laughs ] But luckily, this year, I think it was a little more smooth sailing — no pun intended — than other years.

Are Trumpers from Florida usually the worst guests, or was it just that guy? [ Laughs ] No, most of the guests are really nice. Even the bad ones are really not that bad. The majority of the time, they’re at each other if there’s something negative. It’s very rare that it’s directed at me personally. This season was more smooth sailing, but there are definitely some interesting guests.

I’m personally very impressed by your ability to party so hard and then maintain such a high degree of professionalism on very little sleep. Everyone has their skills and their qualities. Some people are really mathematical. Some people are good at languages. Some people are good at time management. I’m just really good at partying and being professional. [ Laughs ] I’m Irish so I can tolerate my alcohol, and I’m a really good drunk — I’m not a negative drunk, and it has quite a positive effect on me. I handle my hangovers well. But I definitely do still stuffer. It’s not like I’m chirpy and all that. But it’s work. I’m a millennial and we don’t know anything else. We’re like, it’s work time!

There’s this great line you had last season that was something to the effect of, “I’m adorable when I’m drunk, but you guys are disasters.” [ Laughs ] It’s a funny thing — and this is in my personal life as well. I went to dinner the other night and I had four margaritas and a half a bottle of wine, and I got up at 5:00 a.m. this morning to go on an eight-hour flight. My friend texted me being like, “You look so fresh. You’re a freak. I’ve been throwing up all day.” I was like, “What! I could’ve run a 10K. That’s nothing for me. It’s like water.” Everyone else seems to be a hot mess, but I’m usually OK.

During the season preview, they tease that there’s a love triangle of sorts between you, Gary, and Colin. Are they misleading us or what transpired there? Definitely something does transpire. It’s not so much of a tease. There’s definitely a lot in there to unpack, and you’re going to see it from the middle of the season through to the end. It’s complicated because we’re all single people, we’ve all been friends for a long time, we’re all a similar age and have similar interests. It’s kind of inevitable that there’s going to be complicated situations. I don’t want to give too much away. I’m dreading it, but it will be fun for people at home to watch.

It seems Gary gets quite jealous and in his feelings over it? Yeah. I think it’s a shock to everyone, to be honest. Including myself. I’m like, uh, you’ve had two years to hit on me and you haven’t. I don’t know why he’s jealous. But you’ll see when you watch the season.

How can you explain Gary’s broad appeal? And also, how tall is he? [ Laughs ] Well, height-wise, he mustn’t be much taller than me. I’m 5’7”, so he’s probably 5’9”. He is very charming. Whether people like it or not, people are drawn to a big character, a big presence. It doesn’t always last, and people tend to settle for more genuine people with kinder hearts, but that initial attraction and spark — it’s not a cliché even to like the bad boy, the jock, whoever it is. That presence. And Gary definitely has that. He can make you feel like the only girl in the room, although he does that to so many girls. Unfortunately, that does wear off, and I think people are catching on to his pattern.

Are you conflicted about the chaos Gary sows in your department? Because he’s always hooking up with all the stews and pitting them against each other, and then you have to pick up the pieces. And what do you warn your stews about Gary? Last season, I kind of warned Scarlett and I feel like that got thrown back in my face. This season, I’ve taken the approach of just staying out of it. A part of me does lose a lot of respect for Gary for doing that. I don’t respect people who make other people’s jobs harder. I really struggled all three seasons, and there have been times where it hasn’t been aired. The first season was the worst, the second season was a little bit better, and the third season was a little bit better, but certainly it does make me lose respect for him a bit. I’m at the point where it’s like, I voice my opinion, and I don’t think it’s OK to treat colleagues like that, women like that, and especially me like that. But I’ve voiced it and he chooses not to listen, so I’ve chosen to not really let it affect me.

He’s not as bad as Jean-Luc at least. [ Laughs ] I at least enjoy Gary’s company.

Is that the craziest thing to happen on Below Deck Sailing Yacht , at least during your seasons — the whole Jean-Luc and Dani pregnancy saga? For me, it was definitely the wildest, most shocking, most serious thing. I didn’t see that coming. When they hooked up to begin with, I was shocked. I was like, “Really? This is where you want to go?!” And then fast-forward and there’s a baby involved. Dani and Lilly are doing great, but that was pretty mental.

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What do you think is the appeal of Below Deck ? I was talking to the director Steven Soderbergh about this , who like myself is a big fan of the series, and I think it was to do with this unique mixture of teamwork, travel and food porn, conflict resolution, and class conflict. And it’s through the perspective of workers. I think it’s incredibly relatable for a lot of people. There’s something for everybody. So many people come up to me and go, “This is the first show my husband and I can watch together.” You’ve got the travel aspect, the cooking, the relationships, the guests, the service, the boats, all the different nationalities, and you’ve got the real-life work experience. Most people have worked in hospitality at some stage, or can relate to it in some sense. When I used to watch the show before I was on it, we would pause it and then talk for forty minutes about a scene and how we would have done it differently. I think it’s one of the more relatable reality-TV shows that’s out there.

Have you seen Triangle of Sadness ? I haven’t. I’ll have to watch it though!

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10 Below Deck Alums Who Will Never Return To The Franchise (They've Burnt Bridges)

• Yachties on Below Deck face unique challenges with reality TV rules and viewer backlash, making it a tough experience for some.
• Interpersonal drama and struggles with crew members can lead to a yachtie's departure from the franchise for good.
• Some crew members, like Chef Adam and Deckhand Lexi, found it difficult to navigate the pressures and drama of Below Deck.

Below Deck season 11 has had some difficult crew members, but there are some crewmates who have struggled so much during their time on the f ranchise that they’ll never return . Throughout franchise history, Below Deck ’s crew members have been the lifeblood of the series, working with difficult charter guests and making sure their time aboard the super yachts are enjoyable, safe, and make for good TV. While some crew members are more guest-facing than others, they all have the responsibility of ensuring that the charter is pleasant and safe for the charter guests. Working through tough conditions and dealing with different personalities depending on who else is on the crew is commonplace for yachties in any capacity, but depending on their experience level and personality, it can be more difficult for some to navigate than others.

Although many yachties are capable of handling charter guests aboard a superyacht in general, Below Deck changes the game in a way that most yachties struggle with. While superyacht work is difficult on its own, the added stress of working a superyacht on reality TV with different rules, regulations, and provisions available can be tricky. Most yachties explain that they’re not prepared for the pressures of Below Deck , and make it clear that it is an experience like no other in the yachting world. While some thrive in the chaos of the series, like Below Deck Mediterranean star Captain Sandy Yawn or former Below Deck Chief Stew Kate Chastain , others struggle as they make their way through the charter season, as they’re used to providing a different level of service while they’re on a super yacht.

While some yachties may not be up to the difficult standard of Below Deck, others may simply have interpersonal drama that they can’t overcome on the series. Part of the benefit of being on Below Deck is the drama that happens aboard a vessel gets caught on camera, but it’s part of the detriment of being on the series. Issues being filmed and brought to the court of public opinion can be difficult for the yachties, especially when the show’s edit moves the needle in favor of one person or another. While some yachties benefit from learning from their mistakes after they air on the series, others simply face backlash from viewers and wind up getting into more Below Deck drama than they started with. Some Below Deck yachties have struggled so much on the series that they will likely never return to the franchise.

20 Best Reality TV Shows Right Now

Jean-luc cerza lanaux, below deck sailing yacht season 2.

As a member of Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 2 ’s cast, Jean-Luc Cerza Lanaux was a welcome addition to the crew of Parsifal III. The Deckhand appeared to have the right skills to work aboard the sailing yacht, and his connection to the rest of the crew wasn’t much of an issue until late in the charter season. Jean-Luc and Dani Soares built a connection throughout Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 2, but it didn’t appear to be detrimental to either of their time on the series.

Instead, the boatmance helped them to push through difficult times with their teams and the charter guests. After the season ended, Dani revealed that she was pregnant, and a paternity scandal rocked the Below Deck universe as she and Jean-Luc publicly argued about whether or not the baby was his. Eventually, Jean-Luc was confirmed as the child’s father , but the scandal made such major waves that the Deckhand will never return to the Bravo series.

Bruno Duarte

Below deck season 5.

Appearing on Below Deck season 5, Bruno Duarte was a Deckhand who struggled to deal with the system of power aboard the superyacht. Below Deck season 5 featured Captain Lee Rosbach and Kate in the driver’s seat, which worked for some yachties, but not for others. Kate is a polarizing figure in the Below Deck world, as some find her to be a bad Chief Stew, while others praise the way she works. The same goes for Captain Lee, whose style works for some yachties, but rubs others the wrong way.

Bruno had a difficult time with both crew members, struggling to deal with Kate’s attitude and Captain Lee’s alleged behavior. Bruno has shared after his appearance on the series that Captain Lee wasn’t respectful to him, making fun of his accent and forcing him to drink alcohol despite knowing Bruno didn’t drink. The alleged behavior from Captain Lee was enough to keep Bruno away from Below Deck in the future, and his poor relationship with Kate sealed the deal, as he’s moved away from the yachting industry entirely after his appearance on the show.

Chef Adam Glick

Below deck mediterranean season 2 & 3.

While Chef Adam Glick was an early member of the Below Deck Mediterranean crew, he left the series after appearing for just two seasons, only to return to Below Deck Sailing Yacht later on. During his time on Below Deck Mediterranean, Adam fell into a boatmance that distracted him from his work . While some may not remember, Adam and Malia White were in a boatmance early on in the series, but things quickly went south. When Malia began to develop feelings for the Bosun, Wes Walton, Adam’s behavior changed entirely.

Rather than focusing on his work, Adam got caught up in the drama of his boatmance crumbling, which pushed him to purposely mess up the orders he was getting for charter guests, and eventually get physically violent with Wes during a day off. Adam eventually returned for Below Deck Mediterranean season 3 and redeemed himself, but it was too little too late. Getting into another boatmance on Below Deck Sailing Yacht with Jenna Macgillivray , Adam was calmer about his relationship the second time around. Sadly, things fizzled out quickly and it appears that Chef Adam is focusing on his life on land.

Jason Gaskell

Below deck mediterranean season 7.

Appearing on Below Deck Mediterranean season 7 , Jason Gaskell was one of the most dramatic crew members throughout the charter season. His attitude with his crewmates was difficult to watch at times, and there were moments when the Deckhand’s behavior wasn’t called for throughout his time on the superyacht. Though he didn’t appear to get along with the rest of the crew during his time aboard the superyacht, many felt he got the short end of the stick on the superyacht and actually wished he hadn’t left the vessel and the crew behind.

Jason’s time on Below Deck Mediterranean did afford him a good relationship with Captain Sandy, who he enjoyed working with throughout the charter season. He chose to leave the superyacht, but Jason was respectful enough to Captain Sandy that he waited until his replacement was already aboard the vessel, so the team wouldn’t be short-staffed. Though Jason would likely be a welcome addition to a future season of the series, it’s likely he won’t return after the treatment he faced.

Lexi Wilson

Below deck mediterranean season 6.

Another Below Deck Mediterranean star, Lexi Wilson was a member of the crew on Below Deck Med season 6 who struggled in her position and had a hard time with the rest of the crew. As a Stew, Lexi quickly bonded with Courtney Veale during her time aboard the superyacht, but she wasn’t able to make many other connections on the vessel as she moved through her time working on the ship. Lexi shared early on that she’d lost her father just months before boarding the superyacht, so her grief was palpable throughout her time on Below Deck Mediterranean.

While Lexi was dealing with some major emotions, her treatment of the rest of the crew after a rough night out was completely uncalled for. Lexi drunkenly disrespected the rest of the crew , talking back to Chief Stew Katie Flood and Bosun Malia White before getting into a physical fight with Mzi Dempers, an exterior crew member. After her attitude came out, Lexi kept it together for another charter, but wound up fired from Below Deck Mediterranean after an altercation with Chef Matthew Shea. Lexi’s behavior was inappropriate . She seemed to understand yachting wasn’t for her, and has since moved away from the industry entirely.

Ben Willoughby

Below deck season 10 & 11.

After appearing on Below Deck season 10, Ben Willoughby believed he had everything under control. Starting out as a Deckhand, Ben quickly made his way up the ladder. He began Below Deck season 11 as a Lead Deckhand, only to get promoted to Bosun after Jared Woodin was fired by Captain Kerry Titheradge. Ben’s behavior throughout his time on the charter has been interesting , as it’s clear he wants to work efficiently, but he has a knack for stirring up the drama with his fellow crew members. Ben’s penchant for drama also manifests itself in boatmances, which he’s had two of thus far.

While Ben’s behavior has been fine throughout his time on the series, his difficulties outside of the Below Deck universe seem to have him considering his next steps carefully. Throughout Below Deck season 11, Ben has struggled with the way the episodes are edited , sharing on social media that he’s disappointed in the way he’s being portrayed. Having called out several members of the St. David crew online, Ben may be finished with the Below Deck franchise because of how disrespected he feels.

Eddie Lucas

Below deck season 1-3, 8, & 9.

Eddie Lucas was a part of Below Deck for years, but his time on the series seems to have come to an end with his new opportunities taking him away from the show. Eddie worked as Captain Lee’s Bosun for several seasons and eventually moved up to First Officer as he got more experience under his belt. Eddie was great at his job on Below Deck and proved that he was one of the more knowledgeable crew members throughout the franchise with every episode. He was able to solve problems quickly and navigate the water safely, which Captain Lee appreciated.

While Eddie’s time on Below Deck helped to prove his skills on the exterior, the yachtie had some difficult decisions to make after working aboard a superyacht for years without the ability to move up in the ranks. Eddie wound up leaving Below Deck for the opportunity to captain his own vessel, which he still does currently. Though Eddie seemed to enjoy Below Deck, he did have his own complaints about the show, citing low pay in the Bravo hierarchy throughout his time on the series.

Ashton Pienaar

Below deck season 6 & 7.

Although he wasn’t the most difficult cast member to watch on Below Deck season 6 & 7, Ashton Pienaar had a life-changing time on the series. Ashton was one of the more likable crew members aboard the superyacht during his first season of the series, and after having a near-death experience that left him ready to start over , many wondered if he would continue working aboard the superyacht. During Ashton’s second season on Below Deck, his attitude started to shift.

Ashton’s behavior on Below Deck season 7 was difficult to watch, as he continually drank heavily during crew nights out and his attitude shifted. His targeted harassment of Chief Stew Kate was tough to watch, and viewers ultimately felt Ashton’s departure from Below Deck wasn’t surprising. After the show, Ashton realized he had issues he needed to deal with and changed his ways , getting sober and leaving the yachting industry entirely. Though he likely wouldn’t want to come back to Below Deck, he also wasn’t invited while Captain Lee was still part of the show.

Ruan Irving

Below deck mediterranean season 8.

Although he was set to be the Bosun on Below Deck Mediterranean season 8, Ruan Irving’s confusing time on the show never actually allowed him to show off his skills aboard the superyacht. While Ruan was meant to be one of the cast members working aboard the yacht, his paperwork quickly became an issue for Captain Sandy as the charter season kicked off. Ruan’s paperwork had been filled out incorrectly, his medical license wasn’t certified in the appropriate way, and it appeared that some of Ruan’s paperwork had been forged.

While Ruan had explanations for all of his paperwork issues, Captain Sandy had no choice but to remove him from the superyacht until he was able to provide accurate, correct information. Ruan understood the decision but wasn’t sure how he was going to get what he needed together in time. While he was originally hopeful that he’d be able to get the original copies of his paperwork in order to provide them to Captain Sandy, Ruan ultimately knew he was going to hold up the charter if he stayed on the series . He chose to leave Below Deck Med and has shared the experience was overwhelming, so it’s unlikely he’ll return.

Below Deck Down Under Season 2

As a Bosun, Below Deck Down Under season 2’s Luke Jones was meant to provide an example of leadership aboard Captain Jason Chambers’ superyacht. Working with the exterior team, Jason set off some red flags early on in the season, behaving inappropriately with some of the women aboard the superyacht. Though Luke wasn’t necessarily doing anything wrong immediately, his behavior was noticed by viewers and his crewmates. Things became increasingly worrisome when Luke made some inappropriate advances toward Stew Margot Sisson later in the season.

Luke’s behavior was inappropriate and overtly sexual. He kissed Margot without her permission or consent, then attempted to get into her bunk with her while he was wearing only a towel, and Margot was inebriated. Aesha Scott, who was working as Captain Jason’s Chief Stew at the time, noticed what was happening and reported Luke to the Captain. Thankfully, the behavior was taken seriously. Captain Jason had Luke removed from the boat and then terminated his employment . The Below Deck Captain ensured that consequences were given for Luke’s actions, making it clear he won’t be returning to the series again.

The Below Deck franchise is available to stream on Peacock.

Source: Jean-luc Cerza-Lanaux /Instagram

Below Deck is a popular reality TV franchise that focuses on a group of crew members as they work on luxurious yachts and cater to their client's needs. After the original series proved to be a success, Bravo developed a handful of spinoff shows including Below Deck Selling Yacht, Below Deck Adventure, Below Deck Down Under, and Below Deck Mediterranean.

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'Below Deck’ on Honor Yacht - New Bravo Superyacht Crew Reality Show

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By Editorial Team   1 July 2013

The 50m (164’) luxury charter yacht ‘Honor’ is the setting of new Bravo reality series ‘Below Deck’ that follows the lives of crew and guests on board a five-week charter of the Caribbean.

The show has already been subject to some criticism, with many in the industry claiming it does not offer a true insight into luxury yacht chartering. The fact that the yacht was renamed ‘ Honor ’ (previously ‘ Cuor di Leone ’) and the crew of eight were given time off to be replaced by an all-American crew chosen by the executives goes some way to proving this.

Her Captain Rosbach and engineer are real however and remained on board to safely operate the charter yacht throughout the duration of filming. Many in the industry have questioned why they would have taken part in the show when it risks the reputation of ‘Honor’ as a charter yacht as well as exposing unprofessional behaviour of the crew. Yet with a reported $1,000,000 paid by Bravo, treated as a normal charter the Captain would have had to have made it work as he usually would.

‘Below Deck’ is the brain child of co-executive producer, Rebecca Taylor, who has been carrying around the idea since spending three summers working on charter yachts in New England during her college years. She describes the show as documenting when ‘upstairs and downstairs worlds collide’, revealing a young crew who live in a confined space not just with each-other but with their ‘wealthy, demanding charter guests’. 

Obviously, much of the drama and antics have been amplified for entertainment value but one thing that can be highlighted through the show is the long working hours of charter crew and the challenges they face in providing a personalised five-star service to each guest. Every episode features different charter guests, from millionaires, to entertainers to hard-partying well-heeled friends, each presenting their own specific demands for the crew to deal with.

By its very nature, the work that goes into preparing a luxury yacht like ‘Honor’ for charter, from doing laundry, cleaning bathrooms, scrubbing floors and washing the exterior to serving gourmet food and champagne is rarely seen in action. The yacht’s formidable chief stewardess Adrienne Gang, said she was glad viewers would get some insight into the yacht lifestyle and also realise how much work it is to be part of the yacht crew. Others members of the crew include Captain Aleks Taldykin, Chef Ben Robinson, David Bradberry, C.J. Lebeau, Eddie Lucas, Samantha Orme and Kat Hela.

For those who haven’t experienced and luxury yacht charter for themselves, it is advised that ‘Below Deck’ be taken with a pinch of salt. Unlike most luxury charter yachts, only three of the eight crew that took part in the documentary had previous experience and were no doubt chosen for their particularly extrovert personalities. All in all ‘Below Deck’ is just another reality show and while it may represent some situations negatively, should not be taken too seriously. If you are interested in chartering a luxury yacht similar to ‘Honor’ contact your nearest yacht charter broker .

Take a look at all the luxury yachts for charter  , including the world's largest charter yacht Eclipse.

one thing that can be highlighted through the show is the long working hours of charter crew and the challenges they face

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50m Benetti 1999 / 2021

• READ MORE ABOUT:
• Cuor di Leone
• Rebecca Taylor
• Adrienne Gang
• Captain Rosbach
• Aleks Taldykin
• Ben Robinson
• David Bradberry
• C.J. Lebeau
• Eddie Lucas
• Samantha Orme

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14 Binge-Worthy TV Shows Set on Cruise Ships

One of my favorite family vacations to this day will always be the 3-day cruise we took from Singapore to Malaysia on the SuperStar Virgo. Even though it was some 20 years ago, I still remember the excitement I felt walking up the grand staircase that wrapped around the Christmas tree, running down the carpeted hallways to find our room and the awe I felt at just how huge the entire ship looked from the outside.

My tiny, eight-year-old brain had a hard time processing how something so big could stay afloat, but I had no worries that it wouldn’t. It was, without a doubt, a memorable experience and one that I’d like to have again as an adult. I definitely recommend going on a cruise at least once in your life!

But if you can’t do it in person, how about doing it via your TV screen?

This is why we put together a comprehensive list of scripted TV shows set on cruise ships for all you sea lovers to get the travel bug somewhat out of your system.

So put on your best cruise outfit, grab that poolside cocktail, and settle down onto your couch to binge these TV shows about cruise ships!

The Good Ship Murder, Channel 5 (2023 – present)

We’ll begin this countdown with the newest show on it – Channel 5’s whodunit The Good Ship Murder .

This murder mystery series centers on former detective Jack Grayling, now a charismatic cruise ship singer working on a luxury Mediterranean cruise, who finds his past resurfacing when a string of murders rocks the idyllic voyage.

Forced to use his honed detective skills, Jack teams up with the ship’s strong-willed First Officer, Kate Woods, to solve the murders.

Together, they navigate exotic Mediterranean locales while unraveling the tangled motives and hidden secrets of passengers and crew alike.

Wreck, BBC Three (2022 – present)

Another newer show on this list is BBC Three’s horror-comedy Wreck .

This genre-bending series follows Jamie Walsh, a nineteen-year-old who takes a job on a board cruise ship called The Sacramentum to figure out what happened to his sister, who went missing from the same ship three months ago.

But paradise quickly turns deadly as a series of grisly murders begin to plague the ship.

So, Jamie learns the ins and outs of living and working on a ship and befriends other crew members in hopes that it will help him investigate his sister’s disappearance and how the recent attacks on crew member could be connected to it.

The Love Boat, ABC (1977 – 1986)

The Love Boat is a scripted rom-com/drama series that aired on ABC more than 30 years ago! However, when watching this series, you’ll find that a lot of the scenarios portrayed still feel very current.

Based on the original made-for-TV movie of the same name, which in turn was based on the non-fiction book Love Boats written by Jeraldine Saunders, a real-life passenger cruise ship director, the show takes place on board the MS Pacific Princess, a luxury passenger cruise ship.

Captain Merrill Stubing is at the helm, guiding not only the ship himself but also his crew members as they attempt to deal with a new passenger’s antics in each episode.

These crew members included the cruise directors, photographer, purser, bartender, doctor, and eventually, even a troupe of dancers!

Love Boat: The Next Wave, UPN (1998 – 1999)

Speaking of The Love Boat , in 1998, UPN came out of a reboot of the classic series.

This time around, we follow Captain Jim Kennedy, a divorced Navy officer, as he steers the luxurious Sun Princess on Caribbean adventures.

Join him on the cruise ship are his teenage son Danny and a crew of quirky characters as they navigate exotic ports and witness blossoming love stories unfold amongst the passengers each week.

Featuring familiar faces from the original Love Boat alongside many new guest stars, Love Boat: The Next Wave is a must-watch for all those who loved the original series!

The Gale Storm Show, CBS/ABC (1956 – 1960)

Next, we’re looking at the oldest show on this countdown – The Gale Storm Show .

This 1956 black-and-white sitcom stars Gale Storm as Susanna “Susan” Kingston, the quick-witted social director aboard the luxury liner SS Ocean Queen.

During the show’s four seasons, we follow Susan and her scatterbrained best friend Ethel “Nugey” Porter’s hilarious misadventures abroad on the ship, kept in check by the ship’s ever-grumpy Captain, James “Jim” Bates.

Each episode brings new laughs as Susan tackles the chaos of passenger demands, quirky crewmates, and her own romantic entanglements.

The Suite Life on Deck, Disney Channel (2008 – 2011)

For a more light-hearted take on a cruise ship series, we have Disney’s The Suite Life on Deck .

A spin-off of the Disney original series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody , this show sees twins Zack and Cody Martin trade their posh hotel life for the luxurious cruise liner SS Tipton, owned by their classmate London Tipton’s father.

London, used to a life of luxury, must now share a cramped cabin with Bailey Pickett, a down-to-earth girl from Kansas.

While Mr. Moseby, the uptight manager from their old hotel, joins the crew, keeping a watchful eye on the mischievous twins.

Breaker High, YTV (1997 – 1998)

Speaking of teenagers on a cruise ship, there also is a one-season Canadian series, Breaker High .

This unique series takes place at the Pacific Coast Academy, which ditches the traditional classroom for the decks of a luxurious cruise ship, allowing students to explore exotic ports while tackling real-life challenges.

Join a vibrant cast including brooding heartthrob Sean (played by young Ryan Gosling!), practical joker Jimmy, tomboyish Cassidy, and overachiever Denise as they navigate friendships, first loves, and the pressures of high school – all under the watchful eye of the student activities counselor Tony Gifford and the ship’s captain/the school principal Captain Ballard.

High Seas, Netflix (2019 – 2020)

High Seas , also known as Alta Mar in its original Spanish, is a Netflix original series that aired for three seasons beginning in 2019.

Unlike the modern cruise ship settings that we’ve seen so far, High Seas takes place on a luxury ocean liner in the 1940s !

As it voyages from Spain to Brazil, sisters Eva and Carolina Villanueva climb aboard the Barbara de Braganza liner. Unbeknownst to the other passengers and crew, they’ve smuggled a mysterious woman onboard after she pleaded for their help.

Things go terribly awry when the woman is thrown overboard, and Eva, a curious and headstrong writer, launches an investigation into the mysterious goings-on on the ship.

Eventually, both she and her sister discover shocking secrets that tie into their family’s dark past. Who are they supposed to believe?

Anchored, Telecinco (2015)

Another Spanish series set on a cruise ship is the 2015 sitcom Anchored (or Anclados in its original Spanish).

This short-lived Spanish series takes place on a budget cruise ship called the Estrella del Mar (Star of the Sea).

So, we follow the ship’s quirky crew, led by the ever-optimistic Captain Paloma and the perpetually grumpy Cruise Director Mariano, as they struggle to keep the ship afloat – both literally and metaphorically.

Join them alongside a wacky cast of passengers, from social media-obsessed millennials to eccentric retirees, as they navigate hilarious mishaps, stormy weather (both literal and emotional), and all-inclusive chaos.

The Dream Ship, ZDF (1981 – 2005)

From Spanish, we will jump to German in this next series.

The Dream Ship (or Das Traumschiff in its original German) is a long-running German drama that whisks viewers away on luxurious cruises to exotic locations around the globe.

Each episode features heartwarming stories of the passengers taking the cruise – blossoming romances, rekindled friendships, and even family reconciliations – all played out against the backdrop of paradise.

Captains and crews change throughout the series, but the focus on feel-good stories and stunning locales remains constant.

Titanic, ITV (2012)

While not exactly a cruise ship, Titanic is probably the most well-known ship on the planet, so I think we would be remiss if we didn’t mention a TV show about this passenger liner.

Written by Julian Fellowes of Downton Abbey fame to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Titanic disaster, this series weaves a fictional tapestry of stories against the backdrop of the historical tragedy.

We follow the ship’s passengers from all walks of life – ambitious first-class socialites, hopeful Irish immigrants, and hardworking stokers – as they embark on the RMS Titanic’s maiden voyage.

1899, Netflix (2022)

And if we’re mentioning 2012’s Titanic , then we also have to tell you about Netflix’s short-lived series 1899 .

This multilingual sci-fi thriller follows a group of European immigrants sailing westward on the steamship Kerberos. However, their dreams of a new life in America are shattered when they encounter another vessel adrift on the open sea – the Prometheus.

A sinister puzzle unfolds as passengers from both ships, each harboring dark secrets, are inexplicably linked. Mysterious symbols, cryptic messages, and unsettling occurrences plague the journey, raising questions about reality itself.

You Are My Destiny (2020)

The last non-English language series we’ll mention is the Cheese drama You Are My Destiny .

Based on the 2008 Taiwanese drama called Fated to Love You , the series is set on board a cruise ship bound for the Bahamas.

There we meet a mousy administrative assistant, Chen Jia Xin, and a charming heir to a large toiletries conglomerate, Wang Xi Yi.

After a chance encounter, the two find themselves unexpectedly drawn together. Will they become each other’s destiny despite their differences?

Avenue 5, HBO (2020 – 2022)

Finally, science fiction and dark comedy collide in this last entry – HBO’s Avenue 5.

This series brings cruise ships to a place you never could have imagined: space . Yup, you read that right!

While setting off on an eight-week-long cruise, the interplanetary cruise ship Avenue 5 experiences technical difficulties that set off a devastating chain of events: a temporary loss of gravity and the Chief Engineer’s accidental death, causing the ship to veer off-course.

When it’s estimated to take three years for them to return to Earth, Captain Clark and his crew need to figure out how to keep their passengers calm, collected, and safe – even as mishaps are happening left and right.

Will they ever be able to make it back home?

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How Real Estate Became Showbiz and Agents Became Stars

Fueled by the public’s love of reality TV and desire to view luxury homes, real estate agents are chasing fame as fervently as they chase deals.

Mauricio Umansky, the celebrity real estate agent who stars on “Buying Beverly Hills,” was master of ceremonies at the lavish Power Broker Awards show for real estate agents in Los Angeles last fall. Credit... Ariana Drehsler for The New York Times

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By Debra Kamin

Debra Kamin reported from Los Angeles, in four-inch heels.

• Published April 28, 2024 Updated April 29, 2024

The crowd began gathering at 5 p.m., into the movie-perfect backyard of a 1920s Spanish-style Los Angeles estate once owned by Madonna. The air was so soft and eucalyptus-scented you could wrap yourself in it. Glasses clinked. The pool glinted in the slinking sun. In the Santa Monica Mountains above, the Hollywood sign gleamed like a row of perfectly capped teeth.

Into that golden light stepped Mauricio Umansky, fresh off his debut the night before on “Dancing With the Stars.” He made his way to a crystal podium and began cracking jokes for the attendees, who were there for a star-studded awards show.

Unlike the Oscars or the Golden Globes, these awards didn’t go to actors, directors or screenwriters. They went to real estate agents, crowned in categories like “Stratospheric Sale of the Year.” (The winner of that award was Kurt Rappaport, who represented Beyoncé and Jay-Z as they closed on a $190 million Malibu pad last May.) As a real estate broker with two seasons of “Buying Beverly Hills” and 13 seasons as a real husband on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” under his belt, Mr. Umansky was the consummate M.C. for the evening’s Power Broker Awards.

Celebrity has transfixed the real estate world. Agents in markets like Los Angeles and New York chase stardom as fervently as they chase deals.

They rose to glitzy heights during the pandemic, floating into living rooms on shows like “Million Dollar Listing,” “Million Dollar Beach House” and “Buying Beverly Hills.” Captive audiences watched agents rake in six-figure commissions and wrangle personal dramas as they listed, bought and sold some of America’s most eye-popping real estate. “Selling Sunset,” in which an ensemble cast of couture-clad agents bickers and bids in six-inch heels, premiered in 2019 and quickly became one of Netflix’s most popular shows.

The agents now have true staying power, fueled by viewers’ insatiable desire for reality television content and the escapism of peeking at properties they could never afford to own.

Housing affordability in the United States is at a crushing low, with skyrocketing prices, elevated mortgage rates and a lack of inventory accessible to low- and middle-income households. The dream of homeownership is more elusive for Americans than it has been in decades. According to Danielle J. Lindemann, a professor of sociology at Lehigh University and the author of “True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us,” that disconnect increases the programs’ allure, expanding the daydream of Zillow surfing by packaging it as premium content.

“Paradoxically, with these shows, we as viewers forge what’s called a parasocial relationship, which is like a friendship or personal relationship with a character on TV,” Dr. Lindemann said. “We want to see this wealth. We can live vicariously through it. You get to exist in this hyperreality where you almost get to feel like you’re a part of it.”

The most recent season of “Selling Sunset” brought in about 3.2 million streaming viewers per episode, according to Nielsen Media Research; “Buying Beverly Hills” drew 1.7 million per episode in its first season and numbers for its second season, which premiered March 22, are up about 5 percent.

For comparison, “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” (on which Mr. Umansky’s estranged wife, Kyle Richards, regularly discusses their relationship) peaked at 2.5 million views in its latest season.

‘Catapult My Real Estate Career’

“Every agent today is trying to get their own show,” said Alexander Ali, founder of the Society Group, a Los Angeles-based public relations firm that exclusively markets celebrity agents and their properties. “You’ll be hard-pressed to find an agent who doesn’t have social media and a P.R. strategy.”

His company represents agents who have worked with the Kardashians, Ariana Grande and Justin Timberlake — Mr. Ali calls it “the C.A.A. of real estate,” referring to the Hollywood talent agency. Three years ago, he decided to create the Power Broker Awards.

The Hollywood Reporter, which since 2017 has invested heavily in its real estate coverage, has been a co-sponsor of the awards since their inception. The magazine publishes an annual list of the top agents in Los Angeles and New York based on their sales volume, homes sold to Hollywood clients, and visibility in the media.

Three times a year, in Los Angeles, Miami and New York, Mr. Ali partners with The Wall Street Journal for an event called “Upfronts,” a sneak preview of real estate listings that top agents plan to put on the market later in the year. It is held in a film screening room and modeled after the annual presentations that television networks make to entice advertisers to their upcoming shows.

Many luxury agents now say that in a market that’s more crowded than ever, appearing on television is one of the most effective ways to stay ahead of the pack. The days when agents’ options for luring clients were limited to splashing their faces on bus-stop benches and taking out ads in the back page of the Pennysaver are long gone.

• Alexander Ali founded the Society Group, a Los Angeles-based public relations firm that exclusively markets celebrity agents and their properties. “Every agent today is trying to get their own show,” he said. Kevin Scanlon
• Mia Calabrese, a New York-based agent with Nest Seekers International, says joining the cast of “Selling the Hamptons” has helped her career. “My listings are going to get more eyes than a listing with someone who’s not on television,” she said. Tamara Beckwith
• John Gomes leads a 90-person team at Douglas Elliman Real Estate with his business partner, Fredrik Eklund. The pair’s clients include Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, Keith Richards, Daniel Craig, and Jennifer Lopez.
• When he arrived in New York in the early 2000s, Fredrik Eklund was already well known in his native Sweden. But becoming a television star in New York, he said, was a “very intentional” part of his real estate career. Eklund/Gomes
• Some celebrity agents have mixed feelings about going on television. Aaron Kirman, chief executive of Christie’s International Real Estate California, said he loved being the star of his own series, but from a financial perspective, it wasn’t worth it.
• Tomer Fridman, the exclusive agent of the Kardashian clan, is tight-lipped about the celebrities he works with. He describes his role as that of a financial adviser, helping his famous clients decide where to invest their money as real estate becomes a bigger part of their portfolios.
• Josh Altman has appeared on “Million Dollar Listing” since 2011, often alongside his brother, Matthew. He said he considers the time he spends filming to be a savvy investment in his career. Tiffany Angeles

In the real estate brokerage industry, as in the housing market — where median home prices are now six times the median American income and a majority of American renters are spending more than 30 percent of their income on rent and utilities — there is a chasm between the haves and have-nots. The average agent earns $46,014 a year, according to the National Association of Realtors. Mr. Umansky’s net worth is $100 million, according to reports.

“When I decided to go on television, I said, if I’m going to do this, it’s going to be for the sake of the business and the sake of growing my name,” said Mr. Umansky, 53, in an interview.

He got his start in real estate at the firm Hilton & Hyland, which was founded, and co-owned at the time, by his brother-in-law Richard Hilton (of the Hilton Hotel dynasty).” Mr. Umansky first appeared on “Real Housewives” in 2010 and then capitalized on the exposure to launch his own real estate company, the Agency, in 2011. “Buying Beverly Hills” premiered in 2022. The Agency earned $12.4 billion in sales that year — over $1 billion more than in 2021.

Some younger agents who joined television shows say they see celebrity as one of the quickest ways to build their brands. Mia Calabrese, a New York-based agent with Nest Seekers International, had only been a real estate agent for two years when she joined the Discovery+ series “Selling the Hamptons” in 2021.

“It was an opportunity to catapult my real estate career,” said Ms. Calabrese, 32. “Having the platform of being on television allows you to be exposed to so many different clients and so many different markets. It’s a selling point for my sellers. My listings are going to get more eyes than a listing with someone who’s not on television.”

How It Started

Luxury real estate voyeurism has been a fixture on television since “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” That show, which ran from 1984 to 1995, made its host, Robin Leach, a household name — and household voice. But TV real estate agents didn’t truly step into the spotlight until 2012, when “Million Dollar Listing,” already a fixture in Los Angeles, hit New York as well.

At first, that spotlight was limited. Home renovation shows, which took off in the same period, offered a faster track to fame for their leading figures, like Chip and Joanna Gaines and Drew and Jonathan Scott (a.k.a. the Property Brothers), who showed Americans how to flip average properties in a matter of weeks ( often with questionable off-camera results ).

John Gomes and Fredrik Eklund, who lead a 90-person superteam at Douglas Elliman Real Estate, were already successful brokers when Mr. Eklund joined the first season of “Million Dollar Listing New York.”

Becoming a television star was “very intentional,” Mr. Eklund said.

When he arrived in New York in the early 2000s, Mr. Eklund was already well known in his native Sweden. This was partly because of his previous career as an adult film star with the nom de porn Tag Eriksson. But it was also because he understood the invisible, influential currency that fame can deliver: He grew up in a prominent family with links to prime ministers and the film director Ingmar Bergman.

Mr. Eklund believed that his offscreen business as a real estate agent would benefit if he built the right kind of onscreen persona.

“I realized very quickly the more vulnerable and truthful and open I am with the audience, with the camera, the more of a brand in real estate I will become,” he said.

Mr. Gomes and Mr. Eklund sold more than $3.7 billion worth of real estate in 2023 and count Gigi Hadid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Lopez and Daniel Craig among their clients.

Many agents who work with megastars say the key to their success is furiously safeguarding their clients’ privacy and stepping beyond the traditional role of salesperson to become more of a confidante.

Tomer Fridman, the exclusive agent of the Kardashian clan, is tight-lipped about the celebrities he works with. But he admits that his role in their lives goes far beyond real estate. At a time when Hollywood’s ultrarich are increasingly looking to become real estate moguls , Mr. Fridman acts as a financial adviser.

“You need to be a trendsetter for these clients,” he said. “You have to see the market trends and where they should be investing.”

Mr. Fridman, a real estate agent with the Jones Fridman Group at Compass, resisted going on television for more than a decade, despite his A-list clientele. But he, too, is now shopping around a pilot for an as-yet-untitled reality television show.

After the Power Broker Awards wrapped, the attendees loaded into Ubers and headed to the Hollywood Hills for an after-party at the Californication House, a $38 million custom-built James Bond-inspired mansion with a fire pit sunken inside its infinity pool. The house was built on spec — that is, without a particular buyer in mind — by Branden and Rayni Williams , a real estate power couple whose client list reads like a string of TMZ news alerts: Jennifer Lopez, Bruce Willis and Jane Fonda, to name a few.

The Williamses designed the 13,000-square-foot house and oversaw its construction and design, including a secret nightclub tucked on its lower level and a $40,000 custom rotating round bed. The after-party — attended by a who’s who of Los Angeles real estate — doubled as an open house for the property.

Among the guests was the “Selling Sunset” star Jason Oppenheim, who runs the luxury brokerage the Oppenheim Group alongside his twin brother, Brett, and whose romantic life is regular featured on the show. Standing on one of the Californication House’s many glass-enclosed balconies as Los Angeles glittered below, Mr. Oppenheim said he hoped his fame was helping average Americans see real estate as a path toward growing their own incomes.

“To the extent that I’ve helped attract people to real estate, I’m proud,” he said. “For me, real estate is the most exciting thing in the world and it’s great for generating wealth for people.”

Out of the Spotlight

Some agents who have been on television say that the bright lights came with an uncomfortable glare.

Aaron Kirman was a regular on CNBC’s “Secret Lives of the Super Rich” when the network offered him his own program, “Listing Impossible.” The show aired in 2020, at the height of the pandemic, but was not renewed after its first season.

Mr. Kirman, chief executive of Christie’s International Real Estate California, said he loved being the star of his own series, but from a financial perspective, it wasn’t worth it.

“I really wanted TV, and I fought to get on TV,” he said. “But it took time away from my business, and I lost millions of dollars in listings as a result.”

Mr. Kirman said he was open to appearing on another program in the future, but wasn’t chasing the idea. He is focused on his listings, which include an eight-bed, 20-bath estate in Beverly Hills listed for $126 million.

Josh Altman has been appearing on “Million Dollar Listing” since 2011, often alongside his brother, Matthew. He said he considers the time he spends filming to be a savvy investment in his career.

“We keep doing the show because it’s another advertising tool for us, the same way you would pay to be in certain magazines,” he said. “It opened a lot of doors for us.”

But he doesn’t credit his success to being on TV. If anything, he says, the opposite is true. Mr. Altman says that the Altman Brothers — the siblings’ real estate group at Douglas Elliman — sells more than $1 billion in real estate each year.

“The show didn’t make us,” he said. “We made the show.”

An earlier version of this article misstated the ownership of Hilton & Hyland, the real estate firm where Mauricio Umansky began his career. It was co-owned by Richard Hilton when Mr. Umansky started, but no longer is.

How we handle corrections

Debra Kamin reports on real estate, covering what it means to buy, sell and own a home in America today. More about Debra Kamin

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