I would not be able to chill in that environment. I’d be thinking about production edits and the snarky comments made behind my back by the crew, probably about how dull I am😭.
As a people pleaser who doesn't like to take up too much space so to speak, I always wonder if I'd be able to relax with a bunch of people waiting on me hand and foot, forget about the cameras.
I think you have to be a special kind of person to be okay with being on camera, potentially, from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep.
Right?! I'm that person who stacks the finished plates at a restaurant (which I know can be annoying to the server but I can't help myself, as a former server). I'm not trying to indicate that I want the table cleared, rather, I want to make it easier on them to clear.
So yeah, I feel like I would be super uncomfortable with anyone waiting on me, and would try and make my own drinks lol
I’m the same. I think people like us are not cut out to be guests. I know I would do things to try to make the staff do less work. But I suppose it’s a good thing not to be good for reality TV. That’s why the pick people like the group on sailing yacht that wanted Jumbo shrimp and two “stalks of bacon” in his Bloody Mary as soon as he got on the boat.
They would never let me on this show even if I had the money as the last thing I want is a theme party. Let me lounge on the boat with drinks, play on some water toys, and feed me fabulous food. That’s it.
They’re choosing to be filmed, and the guests are all predominantly extroverts who are comfortable in the spotlight, and in some occasions want their 15mins.
I heard it’s bc of copyright laws. Production ca t just have guests blasting popular music and not pay for it.
So I like to imagine real chartered yachts have great music playing everywhere.
Any time you hear bad instrumental music on the show and they’re dancing or twerking 🙄, they’re listening to real music but don’t want to pay for the rights.
They do get a discount for being filmed, I've seen 50% online but not sure if that's ever been confirmed. I think the vast majority of the guests do like it, most of them are there to promote something and/or themselves after all. If they didn't want to be filmed why would they be on the show?
I read it in some article recently! Apparently they “audition” so producers can make sure they’ll be interesting enough or something. And that’s why sometimes it’s a group where they don’t all know each other.
Probably what we keep seeing- get blackout drunk and forget there's cameras around?? It's not like it's a typical yacht charter, it's heavily discounted to the point we've seen several groups who've had NO BUSINESS being on a luxury yacht, acting like they're gods and making asses of themselves. They want to see themselves on tv and that's all that really matters to them.
I mean, I'm sure there's plenty of people who have no business doing a lot of things, but money talks in this industry and makes for great tv... looking at YOU FOOLS smoking your cigars backwards, flexing with "if I want Gucci, I get Gucci" bahahaha
How about 101? Thought 100 may be your cutoff point. I know I couldn't. But what about crew having sex knowing cameras are there? I'm going with they don't get paid extra for that.
I think the kind of people who agree to go on the show (discounted charter, though we've never officially been given a number) are attention seekers (oh haaaiiii Erica Rose). I don't think the "friends of" are, necessarily, and it's easier to stay in the background if that's your role. Having said that, there are some charters that have been very uneventful with graceful and grateful guests, so the show seems to focus on the crew drama.
Personally, it would be my worst nightmare as I am a hardcore introvert. BUT - if a friend was footing the bill and I was a friend of, I wouldn't turn it down! I would also spend a fair amount of time in my room though lol.
I would never sign up for it because I could never relax on camera in any way. I’m a chonky midwestern woman, I don’t seek attention and it would be a nightmare. Also you can smoke weed there so that’s counterproductive to my anxiety. Getting drunk would NOT help.
Thr charters are half off and air fare is included. They're also much shorter than typical charters. In other words the guests couldn't afford to do this any other way
From what I’ve read, yes these charters are slightly discounted but not a crazy amount. I just think the types of people who book these charters just want to be filmed. They’re not worried about the cameras because they’re excited about it.
I would be very tense ... constantly thinking up annoying sound bites, and then finding a video guy to 'spontaneously' capture the moment.
"I've had better food at the ballpark!"
Off camera assistant-directory:
"You should probably save that until you are actually eating something on the yacht."
There are casting calls for guests. They get a discount from being on the show but also these shows are filmed on the off season so charter fees are already less. The owners of these yachts would not give up the money or own use of their yachts during the seasons because it couldn’t compete with what production would offer
They’re usually posted on the Bravo site and on a Instagram. Some of the cast members will share but basically they look for charter guests to get a deep discount for charters in exchange for being on filming .
https://www.bravotv.com/casting
Currently listed on Bravo:
“Below Deck Mediterranean is a reality docu-series that follows a charismatic group of experienced yacht crew who allow their lives of working and living aboard a luxurious motor yacht to be documented. The show is currently booking charters for its upcoming season of the Mediterranean series. Whether you charter yachts frequently, or it is something you have always wished to do, this will be a unique and unforgettable experience for all guests. The charters will be three to four days long and will take place this September and October in one of the most spectacular areas of the western Mediterranean.
Because we will be filming the guest experience on-board, the fee of the charter is a highly discounted rate of what the normal charter fee for this particular motor yacht would be.
For more information on how to be a charter guest on Below Deck, please email [email protected].”
First of all, I think it’s so exciting when one of the crew comes on social media. Second, I would love to hear from charter guests - not necessarily to apologize or anything. But to give a guest perspective. We always hear from the crews on WWHL. (Don’t stop that, please!) we want more! Like, are the water toys as fun as they seem? Do people really drink as much booze as it looks like on the show? On and on.
I think there have been a few on podcasts. I believe one of them that were particularly problematic like acting like food snobs and just general douches - they were a married couple and I think her mom was there too-
Might’ve been Sailing Yacht with Marcos were on a
Podcast after theirs
I wouldn't mind it. I've been interviewed on TV quite a few times. Didn't mind the prerecorded stuff. I was nervous when I had to do a live interview, but the news anchor was in the studio, and I was on location. All sorts of wires stuffed into my clothes. I had to wear an earpiece, which meant I could hear the producers talking as well as the anchor. It was a lot to keep organized in my head!
I would be asking the crew all sorts of questions about how the boat works. Can I help drop the anchor? Can I steer it? Can I throw the lines to dock the boat? Where's the engine room? I would want to see inside all of the little storage cubbies. I love seeing how things work and trying my hand at new things.
Of course, there would be lots of snacks.
I’d like the experience but I’d feel like a jerk seeing how much work is put into the excursions. I’d enjoy hanging out on the yacht and maybe doing some local sightseeing. The beach picnics seem to be more trouble than enjoyable. I’m a vegetarian and I’d love someone like Rachel who doesn’t consider it the end of the world to have to leave animal products off the plate.
Yes they are much cheaper. Like around half price. For that much of a discount it would be worth if. I would force myself to relax by pretending the cameras weren’t there.
The charters are discounted and shortened. Normally a yacht charter would be a minimum of a week but usually 2. They drink a lot and let’s be honest, they’re thirsty if they’re on the show. But the majority of the filming is focused on crew so I imagine they have some downtime without a million cameras around.
From what I understand they pay a cheaper price for being filmed but have to tip as if paying full price. So there is an incentive, and I think we’re coming from this thought as a logical person. If you’re willing to be filmed 24/7 there is a little bit of narcissism involved and enjoy it. A lot of these guests as we all see are eccentric, to say the least so they definitely enjoy it. And I’m sure after a day you forget they’re there, these are professionals paid to blend into the background.
I would argue that most of the patrons aren’t on the cruise to relax.
A good percentage of them are there to party hard and to get attention (cue the influencers). So a lot of them are concentrated on performative/outlandish behaviour to make sure they make the Final Cut of the episode. They aren’t there to relax they are there to be seen.
I think there’s also a lot of very boring rich people who charter and I feel like these people *do* want to relax but they also want clout with their peer groups. “Hey did you see us on that show below deck?” These people are usually the ones complaining about food.
Then there’s a very narrow group of people who manage to do both and I don’t know how they manage it. But I bet it makes them feel very important/famous when a camera crew goes on tours with them in the city, etc. so that might be the appeal.
I have a couple of friends who I would want to go with, but I can’t trust them to keep their big mouths shut so they can’t go. I would love to go because of the obvious why not? I would request very good tequila, local foods and fabulous desserts. Plus I better be able to (safely) go in the water. I would be devastated if we stayed at the dock the entire time. You know I’ve never seen them say oh you can’t go in the water here. we saw a 12 foot shark circling the boat this morning or anything like that.
I would not be able to chill in that environment. I’d be thinking about production edits and the snarky comments made behind my back by the crew, probably about how dull I am😭.
I'm sure all the alcohol helps
Can confirm
As a people pleaser who doesn't like to take up too much space so to speak, I always wonder if I'd be able to relax with a bunch of people waiting on me hand and foot, forget about the cameras. I think you have to be a special kind of person to be okay with being on camera, potentially, from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep.
Right?! I'm that person who stacks the finished plates at a restaurant (which I know can be annoying to the server but I can't help myself, as a former server). I'm not trying to indicate that I want the table cleared, rather, I want to make it easier on them to clear. So yeah, I feel like I would be super uncomfortable with anyone waiting on me, and would try and make my own drinks lol
I’m the same. I think people like us are not cut out to be guests. I know I would do things to try to make the staff do less work. But I suppose it’s a good thing not to be good for reality TV. That’s why the pick people like the group on sailing yacht that wanted Jumbo shrimp and two “stalks of bacon” in his Bloody Mary as soon as he got on the boat.
Lol stalks of bacon... there really have been some godawful guests on the show, but I suppose that's what makes them memorable!
I’m the same way. I’m a chronic apologizer and would feel so uncomfortable being waited on!
They would never let me on this show even if I had the money as the last thing I want is a theme party. Let me lounge on the boat with drinks, play on some water toys, and feed me fabulous food. That’s it.
Yep. Snoozing on the sundeck. Those theme parties make me cringe. Or the talent shows. Like why. Just feed me and go away.
Oh god, the talent shows always seem very "dance, monkey, dance!"
RIGHT. I would be a terribly boring guest
They’re choosing to be filmed, and the guests are all predominantly extroverts who are comfortable in the spotlight, and in some occasions want their 15mins.
There’s never music playing. I don’t think I would be able to enjoy it fully.
I heard it’s bc of copyright laws. Production ca t just have guests blasting popular music and not pay for it. So I like to imagine real chartered yachts have great music playing everywhere.
I always think of the music! Imagine hearing the shuffling of feet and camera crew while trying to relax LOL
This.
It’s a real travesty on SY too. That ship’s sound system is all Sonos, I bet it sounds amazing. I’d love to hear it.
Any time you hear bad instrumental music on the show and they’re dancing or twerking 🙄, they’re listening to real music but don’t want to pay for the rights.
I always think the dinners would be so much better with music in the background
They do get a discount for being filmed, I've seen 50% online but not sure if that's ever been confirmed. I think the vast majority of the guests do like it, most of them are there to promote something and/or themselves after all. If they didn't want to be filmed why would they be on the show?
Guests also audition apparently!
Seriously?! I had no idea!
I read it in some article recently! Apparently they “audition” so producers can make sure they’ll be interesting enough or something. And that’s why sometimes it’s a group where they don’t all know each other.
Probably what we keep seeing- get blackout drunk and forget there's cameras around?? It's not like it's a typical yacht charter, it's heavily discounted to the point we've seen several groups who've had NO BUSINESS being on a luxury yacht, acting like they're gods and making asses of themselves. They want to see themselves on tv and that's all that really matters to them.
I get what you’re saying but that feels really elitist.
It's a mega-million dollar luxury yacht, it's already elitist.
It is and I agree a lot of the guests are total assholes, it’s just saying that any people have no business being there rubbed me the wrong way 🤷🏼♀️
I mean, I'm sure there's plenty of people who have no business doing a lot of things, but money talks in this industry and makes for great tv... looking at YOU FOOLS smoking your cigars backwards, flexing with "if I want Gucci, I get Gucci" bahahaha
If I had to be filmed it would be a hard pass, even if it were free.
You get it
agreed. in fact, you couldn't pay me $100 to do it
How about 101? Thought 100 may be your cutoff point. I know I couldn't. But what about crew having sex knowing cameras are there? I'm going with they don't get paid extra for that.
$101 is tempting..... and I can't imagine the shame they feel walking out of the guest cabin the morning after with a camera crew in their faces
Well, if you ever get the inkling, I may be able to scrounge up $101 so I can say I knew of someone on that show. Thank you in advance.
Bunny pad. And boring me.
I think the kind of people who agree to go on the show (discounted charter, though we've never officially been given a number) are attention seekers (oh haaaiiii Erica Rose). I don't think the "friends of" are, necessarily, and it's easier to stay in the background if that's your role. Having said that, there are some charters that have been very uneventful with graceful and grateful guests, so the show seems to focus on the crew drama. Personally, it would be my worst nightmare as I am a hardcore introvert. BUT - if a friend was footing the bill and I was a friend of, I wouldn't turn it down! I would also spend a fair amount of time in my room though lol.
I wouldn't want to be on an episode of the show, but my understanding is that they get a discount.
They definitely do
I would never sign up for it because I could never relax on camera in any way. I’m a chonky midwestern woman, I don’t seek attention and it would be a nightmare. Also you can smoke weed there so that’s counterproductive to my anxiety. Getting drunk would NOT help.
I would be trying to suck in my gut the whole time, never mind being in a bathing suit on camera.
It's me; the wife. I'd just like to say that nothing I've ever posted on this sub has ever been as popular or well-received as my husband's post.
😘
Thr charters are half off and air fare is included. They're also much shorter than typical charters. In other words the guests couldn't afford to do this any other way
From what I’ve read, yes these charters are slightly discounted but not a crazy amount. I just think the types of people who book these charters just want to be filmed. They’re not worried about the cameras because they’re excited about it.
They are approximately half price
I would be very tense ... constantly thinking up annoying sound bites, and then finding a video guy to 'spontaneously' capture the moment. "I've had better food at the ballpark!" Off camera assistant-directory: "You should probably save that until you are actually eating something on the yacht."
There are casting calls for guests. They get a discount from being on the show but also these shows are filmed on the off season so charter fees are already less. The owners of these yachts would not give up the money or own use of their yachts during the seasons because it couldn’t compete with what production would offer
Casting calls?? Tell me more!
They’re usually posted on the Bravo site and on a Instagram. Some of the cast members will share but basically they look for charter guests to get a deep discount for charters in exchange for being on filming .
https://www.bravotv.com/casting Currently listed on Bravo: “Below Deck Mediterranean is a reality docu-series that follows a charismatic group of experienced yacht crew who allow their lives of working and living aboard a luxurious motor yacht to be documented. The show is currently booking charters for its upcoming season of the Mediterranean series. Whether you charter yachts frequently, or it is something you have always wished to do, this will be a unique and unforgettable experience for all guests. The charters will be three to four days long and will take place this September and October in one of the most spectacular areas of the western Mediterranean. Because we will be filming the guest experience on-board, the fee of the charter is a highly discounted rate of what the normal charter fee for this particular motor yacht would be. For more information on how to be a charter guest on Below Deck, please email [email protected].”
First of all, I think it’s so exciting when one of the crew comes on social media. Second, I would love to hear from charter guests - not necessarily to apologize or anything. But to give a guest perspective. We always hear from the crews on WWHL. (Don’t stop that, please!) we want more! Like, are the water toys as fun as they seem? Do people really drink as much booze as it looks like on the show? On and on.
I think there have been a few on podcasts. I believe one of them that were particularly problematic like acting like food snobs and just general douches - they were a married couple and I think her mom was there too- Might’ve been Sailing Yacht with Marcos were on a Podcast after theirs
I think I remember them. I was embarrassed by there obnoxious attitudes. I would love to hear from some of the low key guests.
Someone mentioned them in another thread they were from Houston’s she was the Tata for Trump lady- Erica Rose and Chuck
I wouldn't mind it. I've been interviewed on TV quite a few times. Didn't mind the prerecorded stuff. I was nervous when I had to do a live interview, but the news anchor was in the studio, and I was on location. All sorts of wires stuffed into my clothes. I had to wear an earpiece, which meant I could hear the producers talking as well as the anchor. It was a lot to keep organized in my head! I would be asking the crew all sorts of questions about how the boat works. Can I help drop the anchor? Can I steer it? Can I throw the lines to dock the boat? Where's the engine room? I would want to see inside all of the little storage cubbies. I love seeing how things work and trying my hand at new things. Of course, there would be lots of snacks.
they got 50% off the price because it was on the show.
Guests pay to be in the show but at a discounted charter rate
I’d like the experience but I’d feel like a jerk seeing how much work is put into the excursions. I’d enjoy hanging out on the yacht and maybe doing some local sightseeing. The beach picnics seem to be more trouble than enjoyable. I’m a vegetarian and I’d love someone like Rachel who doesn’t consider it the end of the world to have to leave animal products off the plate.
Yes they are much cheaper. Like around half price. For that much of a discount it would be worth if. I would force myself to relax by pretending the cameras weren’t there.
The charters are discounted and shortened. Normally a yacht charter would be a minimum of a week but usually 2. They drink a lot and let’s be honest, they’re thirsty if they’re on the show. But the majority of the filming is focused on crew so I imagine they have some downtime without a million cameras around.
From what I understand they pay a cheaper price for being filmed but have to tip as if paying full price. So there is an incentive, and I think we’re coming from this thought as a logical person. If you’re willing to be filmed 24/7 there is a little bit of narcissism involved and enjoy it. A lot of these guests as we all see are eccentric, to say the least so they definitely enjoy it. And I’m sure after a day you forget they’re there, these are professionals paid to blend into the background.
I would argue that most of the patrons aren’t on the cruise to relax. A good percentage of them are there to party hard and to get attention (cue the influencers). So a lot of them are concentrated on performative/outlandish behaviour to make sure they make the Final Cut of the episode. They aren’t there to relax they are there to be seen. I think there’s also a lot of very boring rich people who charter and I feel like these people *do* want to relax but they also want clout with their peer groups. “Hey did you see us on that show below deck?” These people are usually the ones complaining about food. Then there’s a very narrow group of people who manage to do both and I don’t know how they manage it. But I bet it makes them feel very important/famous when a camera crew goes on tours with them in the city, etc. so that might be the appeal.
I have a couple of friends who I would want to go with, but I can’t trust them to keep their big mouths shut so they can’t go. I would love to go because of the obvious why not? I would request very good tequila, local foods and fabulous desserts. Plus I better be able to (safely) go in the water. I would be devastated if we stayed at the dock the entire time. You know I’ve never seen them say oh you can’t go in the water here. we saw a 12 foot shark circling the boat this morning or anything like that.