Below Deck Season 12: New Crew Chaos and Demanding Guests Kick Off a High-Stakes Season

If you are anything like me you have been waiting patiently for the return of Below Deck. Bravo’s hit reality series is back with its Season 12 premiere. We all love watching the high-stakes world of luxury yachting, where young crew members, or "yachties," cater to demanding clients in some of the most beautiful places on Earth. This new season promises all the action, adventure, and even a teased meeting with the maritime police. It is going to be wild.

The show's simple idea is what makes it so good. A group of young people live and work together on massive yachts. They have to make sure their wealthy guests are always happy no matter what they want. It is a job that lets them see amazing places but it also means dealing with endless demands and close quarters living. The crew lives by a motto that goes "work hard, play harder" which gives them access to perks few people ever experience. But it also leads to plenty of drama. I am always interested to see how each new group of crew members handles the pressure and each other.

This season starts off with a bang. Captain Kerry Titheradge is back and he has his work cut out for him. We are introduced to a new chef a new bosun and several new stews. Each new personality brings their own set of challenges to the luxurious St. David. The premiere episode alone gave us enough drama to chew on for weeks. It featured a chef struggling to find his rhythm a green stew causing trouble and a germaphobe guest with a black light. All of this meant a tough start for the new crew.

The Yachties Are Back: How To Catch Below Deck Season 12's Wild New Adventures

All the Ways to Stream and Watch the Drama Unfold Each Week

Below Deck Season 12 premiered on Monday June 2, 2025 at 8 PM ET on Bravo in the U.S. If you did not catch it live you can still watch it. Episodes are available for streaming the following day on Peacock. This is also where you can find all 11 previous seasons of Below Deck and its spin-offs. That includes Below Deck Down Under and Below Deck Mediterranean. So if you need to catch up or just want to rewatch some classic moments Peacock is the place to go.

For those without traditional cable there are several ways to watch the premiere and future episodes live. Many streaming services carry Bravo. You can sign up for trial offers from Fubo or DirecTV Stream. Fubo offers a huge selection of channels. It has more than 220 channels including many for sports and entertainment. DirecTV Stream offers live TV from major broadcast and popular cable networks. It also includes unlimited cloud DVR storage. Sling Blue also has Bravo and often has special deals like half off your first month of service. These options make it easy to tune in each week no matter how you usually watch TV.

For international fans the show is available in different regions too. Viewers in Canada can watch Below Deck Season 12 on Bravo at the same time as the U.S. It is also available on Hayu. U.K. and Australian viewers can watch the show online at Hayu the day after it airs in the U.S. The series can also be streamed on Netflix in some regions. Individual episodes can be purchased on Apple TV and Prime Video. So no matter where you are in the world you can keep up with all the yacht drama.

New Faces and Familiar Favorites Navigate the St. David's Tricky First Charter

Captain Kerry, Fraser, and Kyle Welcome a Challenging Mix of Personalities

This season we see some familiar faces return to the superyacht St. David. Captain Kerry Titheradge is back at the helm. He made his debut on Below Deck Adventure before taking over the main ship in season 11. He is known for his no-nonsense style and demands respect from his crew. Chief Stew Fraser Olender from the UK also returns for his third season. He started as a steward in season 9 and became Chief Stew for seasons 10 and 11. Fraser is in charge of the yacht's interior operations and cleanliness. His standards are higher than ever this season. Deckhand Kyle Stillie from Scotland is also back for his second season. The trailer hinted he might not make it to season 13 which is a concern.

The new season introduces several new crew members. Chef Lawrence Snowden from the UK joins the team. He has over 15 years of culinary experience and fine-dining skills. However the high-stress environment of the galley quickly tests his strong faith. Bosun Caio Poltronieri from Brazil is also new. His job is to keep the deckhands working as a team but he struggles to manage them. The new stewardesses include Solène Favreau who has very little experience and appeared on "Love Island France." There is also Barbara Kulaif from Brazil with three years of experience and Rainbeau de Roos with five years of experience. Deckhands Jess Theron and Damo Yorg complete the new roster. They all have to work together in the stunning but demanding Caribbean locations of Saint Maarten Anguilla and St. Barths.

Black Lights, Missing Luggage, and Cold Steaks: The Premiere's Unforgettable Mayhem

When Demanding Guests and Crew Struggles Combine for Instant Drama

The first charter of Season 12 sets the tone for the entire season. It features a germaphobe primary guest named Sam who arrives with a black light. He uses it to check the cleanliness of the yacht. His daughter Jade also asks for Clorox wipes from her luggage. This immediately puts the pressure on the interior crew. Later Sam tells Fraser that the switches by his bed were "disgustingly dirty." This leads Fraser and Barbara to clean them happily.

Chef Lawrence immediately struggles to find his rhythm in the galley. He finds himself stressed and asks production not to film him as he preps. He even quotes a Bible verse in his interview showing his inner struggle. Later he has trouble locating his radio and one of his stoves acts up. He eventually tells Captain Kerry that he "can't do another charter" as the credits roll. This leaves us wondering if he will actually quit. The stews also face their own challenges. Solène is very green and struggles with simple tasks like folding. Barbara tries to teach her but Solène questions Barbara's authority. Their voices intensify. Rainbeau tries to encourage Solène to move faster. It is clear that the personalities are clashing early on.

The premiere also delivers a big moment of panic when the yacht pulls anchor before the guests' luggage is loaded. Fraser realizes the suitcases are far away and radios Caio who does not answer. Captain Kerry has to call yacht services back at the pier to get the luggage. It arrives shortly after. At dinner Sam strikes again. He sends back his steak wanting to see "zero red" and another guest complains her steak is cold. Sam yells for Fraser and demands every dish go back to the galley. The guests eventually decide to skip that part of dinner entirely. All these things create a lot of tension and prove that this season will be full of problems. Kyle the deckhand also finds Solène "sexy as hell" which means we might see a boatmance developing.

Anticipating More High Seas Drama and Personal Twists For the Below Deck Crew

From Porn Stars to Personal Battles, What the Rest of the Season Promises

As the season progresses we are sure to see even more wild moments. Future episodes tease a "porn star charter" which will certainly add to the boat's "beautifully incestuous" crew dynamics. Captain Kerry will likely grow more frustrated with both the interior and Caio's leadership on deck. We know that Kyle potentially crosses a line with a charter guest. This could lead to serious disciplinary issues for him. The clashes between Fraser's stews are also likely to continue. Solène's laissez-faire attitude towards work might push Rainbeau even further away from her. The show thrives on these personal and professional conflicts.

The second episode preview already shows Chef Lawrence continuing to struggle in the galley. Captain Kerry might even think about hiring someone new. The deck team also struggles to find their footing under Caio's scattered leadership. These ongoing problems create a lot of tension. The show is always good at showing how even small issues can blow up when people live and work in such a confined space. I think this season will be no different. We will see many high-stakes situations. The crew will have to balance demanding guests with their own personal drama and rivalries. It is what makes Below Deck so entertaining.

I am eager to see how all the different storylines play out. Will Lawrence find his peace or will he truly quit? Will Solène and Barbara be able to work together? Will Kyle find love or get into more trouble? These are the questions that keep me coming back each week. Below Deck always delivers on the drama and the luxury. This season seems to be no exception. It is definitely one to watch if you enjoy reality TV and all the chaos that comes with it.