Below Deck Med Crew Surprised with Generous Tip Following Challenging Charter
Fans of Bravo are quite familiar with the unexpectedly low gratuities on Below Deck — but what about the surprisingly generous ones?
In the episode that aired on Monday, November 3, of Below Deck Mediterranean, the Bravado crew faced challenges while trying to satisfy a group of guests who were particularly displeased with the food. Despite some disappointing dishes from Chef Josh Bingham, he managed to win them over with dessert on the final night.
Aesha Scott remained doubtful about receiving fair compensation for their efforts after observing the guests spending so much time in their rooms. To their astonishment, Captain Sandy Yawn disclosed that the tip was significantly higher than anticipated.
The crew received a total of $40,000, amounting to $4,000 each. Aesha exclaimed that this was “the biggest tip” she had “ever received” in any of her seasons. The crew even sent the guests a celebratory video, marking their success.
Below Deck, which first aired in 2013 and has led to several spin-offs, illustrates the lives of various crew members working and residing on luxury yachts during the charter season. The cast receives a salary for their work on the boat, as well as gratuities — or tips — from guests.
Although Below Deck Med had a strong opening, the original show faced challenges when Captain Kerry Titheradge and his St. David crew encountered a significant issue in season 12a — the yacht was unable to leave the dock due to engineering problems. The crew had to entertain the guests without setting sail, which ultimately affected their gratuity.
“I’m trying to calculate a discount for these guests since we didn’t burn any fuel,” Captain Kerry stated during a call with the yacht agent, suggesting that the guests deserved a “20 percent discount” while they debated whether to leave a tip at all.
“Not tipping does not reflect our group,” one guest mentioned to another. “It’s a reflection of the situation.”
Later, the primary guest approached Captain Kerry to discuss their concerns.
“You guys have been fantastic. We have been completely satisfied, but when something significant goes wrong — like the boat not moving — it’s not a minor issue,” he told Captain Kerry. “There’s the usual gratuity, but I doubt the group will be pleased about that.”
Captain Kerry, however, had a different perspective on the overall feedback.
“At the end of the day, we’re in the service industry,” he remarked. “If there’s a mistake on the yacht, it’s the staff who shouldn’t face the consequences.” Kerry hinted at possible “compensation upfront” for the charter, but ultimately the gratuity fell short.
“Regrettably, the guests seemed to think they were punishing us because the boat didn’t move. In my opinion, this isn’t fair. [They tipped] $19,000, which is significantly less than deserved,” Captain Kerry shared with the crew, pointing out that they received only $1,461 each for their efforts.
Chief steward Fraser Olender later discussed the expected amount from charter guests.
“For our charter season, I can tell you that the minimum I’d expect [to avoid seeing me frown] is $20,000 — let’s skip that and focus on $25,000 to $30,000 for the time we’ve committed,” Fraser stated during a June episode of SiriusXM’s Reality Checked with Dorinda Medley and Kiki Monique. “I won’t compromise on that. I don’t care if it’s for one day, three days, or five. That amount is what I’ll be waiting for, and if you can’t meet that expectation, just consider another cruise.”
Below Deck Med airs on Bravo Mondays at 8 p.m. ET. New episodes are available for streaming the following day on Peacock.
