Bravo struggled trying to cast the first season of Below Deck. But the reality TV show soon went from a hard-to-recruit series to the show that everyone wanted to join. And viewers quickly discovered the fun of watching crew aboard a luxury yacht sailing to exotic places.
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Find out the answers to frequently asked questions about the Below Deck franchise. And learn the truth about those Kate Chastain rumors. Get all the details below.
Below Deck Spoilers – How Much Do Guests Pay?
One of the most frequently asked questions about Below Deck concerns its paying guests. Because some of the yacht guests seem so demanding, viewers have often wondered if those guests pay to get service with a smile. And the answer is yes. Below Deck alum Kate Chastain shared via Yahoo the actual charges.
To charter a Below Deck yacht for seven days, guests pay about $150,000. “But that does not include airfare, fuel, food, wine, docking, tip. So, I would say for a boat like Valor, for a week vacation, it would be around a quarter of a million dollars,” added Kate.
And producer Mark Cronin shared that no one gets a free ride. “They spend their real money to be on the show,” shared Cronin. “And then the tip they leave, they decide what it is.” However, another Below Deck producer, Courtland Cox, shared that guests don’t seek out the chance to appear on the show. “This is a great experience for them to charter a very large yacht with a very experienced and fun crew and have an amazing three-day charter in an amazing location,” noted Cox.
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Below Deck Spoilers – How Does Bravo Cast?
However, both producers recall the challenges in casting season one of Below Deck. And Courtland admitted, “Initially, it was very hard to get yacht crew members to commit to doing the show. Because it was an unknown entity,” potential crew members worried about risking their “future employment potential.”
But as Below Deck became a hit show, more people applied. And Courtland revealed that many yacht crew members opt to climb on board for the same reason. They hope Below Deck will help their friends and family to understand their jobs. “And they’re like, ‘If I go on Below Deck, I will have a tangible, visible thing for my family and friends to understand what my job is,'” added the producer.
But when it comes to Below Deck’s past stars, fans still long for the return of their favorite chief stew, Kate Chastain. She exited the show in 2020 after remaining in that role since the second season. And even if Kate doesn’t return to Below Deck, she reportedly will appear on the spin-off, Below Deck: Galley Talk.
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Tell us what you think. What do you enjoy most about watching Below Deck? And after you share your views, check back on our site for more reality TV news.
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