On August 18, 2023, a group of guests on the reality series Below Deck faced scrutiny for their attempts to avoid tipping the crew after a series of unexpected challenges. This episode featured Captain Kerry and his team on the yacht St. David, who found themselves stranded at the dock due to an engineering issue, prompting a shift in their service approach.
As the yacht remained docked, the crew had to devise entertaining activities for the guests, impacting their operational costs. Two days into the charter, Captain Kerry contacted the yacht agent to discuss the possibility of offering a discount to the guests, suggesting a 20 percent discount because they were not burning fuel. Despite this gesture, discussions among the guests revealed a reluctance to provide a customary tip.
One guest noted, “No tip is not a reflection of our group. It is a reflection of the circumstances.” During a later conversation, the primary guest expressed appreciation for the crew’s efforts but acknowledged the significant issue of the yacht not departing. He mentioned the standard gratuity but indicated uncertainty about the group’s willingness to adhere to it.
Captain Kerry defended the crew’s service, stating, “End of the day, it is the service industry. The house makes a mistake — the staff shouldn’t suffer.” Despite his assertions, the gratuity offered was notably below expectations. “Unfortunately, the guests—in their mind—punished us for the boat not moving. Which I don’t think is fair,” he explained to his crew. They ultimately received $19,000, which equated to $1,461 per crew member for their hard work.
The franchise, which premiered in 2013, follows the lives of crew members working on super yachts during charter seasons. Crew members earn a salary and receive tips from guests, which can significantly impact their overall earnings. Chief steward Fraser Olender recently shared his expectations regarding tips during an interview, stating, “If we are not getting between $20,000—I’ll scrap that. $25,000 to $30,000 for the time we’ve done.” He emphasized the importance of this financial expectation, regardless of the duration of the charter.
With the ongoing discussions about tipping and service expectations, this episode highlights the complexities of the hospitality industry, particularly in high-pressure environments like luxury charters. Below Deck airs on Bravo on Mondays at 20:00 ET, with new episodes available for streaming the following day on Peacock.
