Those who are vacationing aboard a luxurious yacht rarely give any thought to the hard working people aboard the ship. Just ask the crew on Below Deck, and they'll tell you all about that! Between the endless demands of the vacationers and the grueling duties aboard the ship, it's a wonder these crew members survive a single day!
Bravo has seen incredible success with many of its shows, Below Deck being one that generates quite a following. There's definitely enough drama that happens behind the scenes to keep things interesting. While this job may not be for everyone, watching this entertaining blend of people interact is definitely enjoyable.
As the cameras roll,Below Deck chronicles the lives of those who live and work aboard the ship, but we can can tell you all about what happens when the cameras aren't rolling...
15 The Film Crew Sleeps In Hotels, There's No Room On The Ship
Well that's not very glamorous! We all figured one of the perks to working behind the scenes of this show would be being able to reap the benefits the cruise ship has to offer. Apparently, that's not the case. There's simply not enough room on the vessel for the film crew so they stay in nearby hotels.
14 Crew Members Need To Water Taxi To Get To The Ship
To make matters more complicated, the ship continues along its journey throughout the night, so when it's time to come back to work after a good night's sleep, the film crew has to call in a water taxi and allow enough time to make it back to the vessel and set up their equipment before it's time to do it all again!
Related:20 Rules Every Cruise Ship Employee Has To Follow
13 Producers, Cast, And CrewAttend Safety Orientation Before Filming
If the boat looks dangerous to you as you watch it on television, it's because it is! There are so manydangers that lie within the vessel that the film crew, producers, and cast members all have to attend mandatory safety orientation prior to the first day of filming. This keeps everyone as safe as possible both on and off camera.
12 It Takes Two Weeks To Outfit The Ship For Taping
As you can imagine, it's not an easy feat to outfit an entire ship with cameras. They are set in high traffic areas and throughout the ship to capture as many angles as possible during filming. It takes the crew a full two weeks to outfit each vessel with the audio and visual requirements needed to tape the show.
11 Narrow Hallways Lead To Difficulty Shooting Scenes
Those of you who have been on a yacht or cruise ship before are very aware of the fact that there isn't a whole lot of space to work with. The hallways on each ship provide filming challenges as they're incredibly narrow. That's precisely why you often see shots of people walking from behind - there's just no other way to capture the shot.
The control room is a sacred space aboard the ship. It houses all the edited and unedited footage, and guests are constantly trying to get a sneak peek. It's pretty standard to see guests trying their best to casually sneak in, or to peer in at any opportunity. Of course, this is frowned upon.
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9 The Cast Gets Tips That Are Bigger Than The Pay
Most people assume that anyone featured on a TV show is raking in the dough. That's not true for this show. When exploring secrets from Below Deck, Screen Rant reports that Bravo pays s small appearance fee to the cast of Below Deck, and the remainder of their salary is left up to the yacht company. The cast makes between $1,000 and $2,000 in tips per charter episode, totaling way more than their wages are.
8 Guests Say They Don't Witness The Drama We See OnTV
After the show, many guests are interviewed about their experiences and they state that they're typically unaware of the drama that is seen on television. Either things are kept professional in front of them, or they're too busy enjoying them to notice it, because viewers definitely witness their fair share of drama!
7 There Are Some Interesting Spots Used To "Get It On"
With cameras all over the vessel, it takes a bit of creative thinking to come up with a discreet spot to "mess around." Rocky and Eddie know all about that! They went for a romp in the laundry room– there are no cameras there! The fact that cameras are everywhere doesn't seem to deter anyone, it just makes them more creative.
6 A Below Deck Anchoring Issue Nearly Cut Power From An Entire Island
During an interview, Kelly Johnson revealed that there were some pretty close calls during the taping of Below Deck. At one point, the ship's anchor yanked up an underwater power line, and all the power was nearly cut from the neighbouring islands. Screen Rant reports that the crew was able to detach the line just in time.
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5 Captain Lee Is Actually Fun When He's Not On The Job
Captain Lee is very, very serious on the show. However, when he's home in Ft. Lauderdale, he's apparently a really fun guy to hang out with! He's been known to get his drink-on, and really let loose. He drives an incredible Mercedes and doesn't hesitate to hit the town with his wife and friends during his time off.
4 Producers Don't Interfere With Captain Lee... His Word Is Law
Being on the job is a different story though. When Captain Lee is aboard the ship, his word is law. Nobody, and we mean nobody, overrides him in any way. When it comes to this show, the producers don't meddle much at all. The big decisions are always left up to the Captain himself, and his word is law.
3 In An Effort To Keep Things Real, Producers Try Keeping Cast Members Apart
The producers of this show really try hard to provide viewers with an authentic experience. So much so that they try to keep the cast members apart from one another prior to shooting. This encourages more natural, organic reactions on camera, and forces them to navigate the intricacies of their relationship in close quarters, and in a raw, real fashion.
2 The Control Room Is A Cramped And Exhausting Space
The control room is definitely not the most spacious room aboard the ship. In fact, it's anything but. The crew behind the scenes spends countless hours in this tiny room going through footage and the grueling hours come with very little in the way of perks.
1 When Brandy Got Sick, Captain Lee Pulled Double Duty, Watching Her& The Ship
Captain Lee is a true captain, through and through. He never leaves anyone to fend for themselves in any way. When Brandy got too sick to cope with life on the boat, Captain Lee sat with her the entire time, tending to her needs, all while continuing to manage the vessel. This double duty stunt wasn't required, it was simply a reflection of his character.
Next:This Season Of Below Deck Has The Most Annoying Crew Yet
