Below Deck Update

Below Deck and Below Deck Mediterranean are two of my favorite TV shows, so it was a thrill to be able to charter the yachts as a guest and interact with the crew on both shows. I was on season 1 of Below Deck Mediterranean in Greece and season 6 of Below Deck in Tahiti. I’ve written about my trips, but needed to set something straight, so I am creating a Below Deck Update on my blog.

Here is the intro on my first charter:

There have been several media articles that have quoted me and my blog posts about my trips on Below Deck. I think they quote me because people still find it hard to believe the show is not scripted or paid for in some way. They are not. As passengers, we are told to have fun and forget the cameras are there. We really charter the yacht and pay for it. The show gives a discount of 25 or 30% from the regular charter rate, but it is still very expensive. The guests also pay 100% of the tip. The producers arrange for our tip to be in cash and put it in the envelope for us to hand to the Captain at the end of the charter, but it is our money, not the show’s. I want to clarify that since a recent media article said otherwise.

As a guest on two Below Deck shows, I’m probably one of the few people who have tried both Chef Ben’s and Chef Adrian’s cooking. I have to say Chef Ben wowed us and cooked the best salmon I’ve ever had (the secret ingredient was truffles, he said). I still miss Ben as the chef on the show and would love to see him return. I’d also love to see Hannah return to Below Deck Med.

I really wanted to meet Captain Lee and Kate Chastain, two of my favorites, so it was very exciting to go to Tahiti with them. Since Kate has stepped down from the show, it wasn’t quite as good this year, but the crew did their best. I’ve been invited back since our charters and if invited again, may choose to go another time. It is such a unique experience to be catered to by the crew, and it is unlike any other travel experience I’ve ever had including some very nice high-end cruises. There’s something about being in a small group and intimate yacht setting where your every wish is tended to that is beyond description. I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to travel in this way and do not take the experience for granted.

I hope this clears up the questions about whether the show is scripted (it’s not) and who pays the tip (charter guests do).

Linda P. Jones is the author of “You’re Already a Wealth Heiress, Now Think and Act Like One: 6 Practical Steps to Make It a Reality Now!” The 5-star book gives you a Wealth Heiress Checklist and a Millionaire Action Plan (MAP) for simple steps to financial freedom. Her book was named one of the “Best Wealth Books of All Time” by BookAuthority. Linda hosts the highly-acclaimed “Be Wealthy & Smart” podcast on iTunes, listened to in 181 countries with over 6 million downloads. Linda believes that being smart with money is about making the right choices, and with the right knowledge anyone can have financial freedom, no matter how much money you are starting with or how late you start. Connect with her for daily tips on Facebook and Instagram.