Below Deck Season 12 Kicks Off with a ‘Nightmare’ Blunder
Season 12 of Below Deck has kicked off with a challenging start, as the deck crew forgot guest luggage at the dock — only realizing their mistake while already at sea.
In an exclusive clip from Us Weekly featuring the premiere on Monday, June 2, chief steward Fraser Olender inquired with Captain Kerry Titheradge about the missing suitcases, stating, “Do we have an ETA on that? I don’t believe it’s onboard unless it’s hidden somewhere. I haven’t noticed anything.”
Kerry encouraged Fraser to touch base with bosun Caio Poltronieri. “F***ing wankers,” Kerry commented in a confessional. “Are they just f***ing around down there? What’s happening?”
While Caio and Jess Theron were working on deck, the rest of the crew, including Kyle Stillie and Damo Yorg, were taking a breather in the crew mess. Kyle couldn’t contain his laughter when Fraser mentioned the luggage wasn’t aboard the St. David.
“I would advise him to address this sooner rather than later,” Fraser told the deckhands before one of them labeled it “a f***ing nightmare” on their first charter of the season.
The sneak peek concluded with Kerry contacting Caio via radio to ask him to report to the wheelhouse — with the suitcases still onshore.
Season 12 promises to escalate the drama with returning crew members Kerry, Fraser, and Kyle. Joining the Below Deck veterans are new crew members Chef Lawrence Snowden, Caio, deckhands Jess and Damo, and stews Barbara Kulaif, Rainbeau de Roos, and Solène Favreau.
Bravo had previously issued a synopsis hinting at the upcoming drama.
“Known for their unique blend of French and Dutch influences along with pristine white sand beaches, the three Caribbean territories create an unforgettable island-hopping charter season,” the April press release stated. “This season, Captain Kerry demands respect from his crew as they navigate tense work dynamics and complicated love triangles on the high seas.”
In the interior, Fraser’s standards “are higher than ever, but his quest for perfection is complicated by clashes between his stews’ personalities. With over 15 years of culinary expertise, Chef Lawrence brings fine-dining knowledge to the galley. However, when the high-stress environment conflicts with his strong values, Chef Lawrence struggles with his role on the boat.”
On the exterior, Caio leads the team but “faces difficulties managing his crew, and when rumors arise that deckhand Kyle may have crossed a line with a charter guest, Captain Kerry must make a difficult decision.”
Prior to the season launch, Fraser exclusively shared with Us that he wouldn’t dismiss the possibility of someone being fired. “There are firings. There are hirings,” he teased in May. “There are disasters happening everywhere. But I can’t stress enough how dramatic and enjoyable this season is. It’s nonstop.”
He added: “I was thrilled to dive into this season. I think I’ve matured significantly since I first came on the show — and you never know what a crew will bring. But I aimed to ensure that this season was about bringing out the best in my crew. I wanted harmony, love, and friendship amidst the chaos. I believe we achieved that.”
Below Deck returns with a supersized premiere, airing on Bravo Monday, June 2, at 8 p.m. ET. New episodes will be available for streaming the following day on Peacock.
