Bravo
Amidst the glam housewives, Los Angeles bartenders-slash-DJs, and Hamptons party hoppers that populate Bravo’s hit reality TV programs, a hardworking boat crew might seem out of place. But the enduring popularity of Below Deck, which returned for its 11th season on Monday night, is proof that watching four deckhands struggle to set up an inflatable water slide for a group of former college sorority sisters from Florida is actually pretty entertaining after all. After more than a decade on air, Below Deck is back again with its familiar formula of hunky deckhands, catfights between stews, uber-rich charter guests—and a brand new captain.
The supersized 75-minute season premiere kicks off by introducing the (mostly) new crew of the St. David megayacht. As always, the cast is composed of aquatic enthusiasts from all over the world who, though equal in hotness, are in possession of vastly varying levels of yachting experience. Clashes between the less experienced yachties and those left to resentfully pick up their slack is as essential to Below Deck’s DNA as entitled charter guests and drunken jacuzzi makeouts.
First up, we have the biggest casting shake-up in the show’s 11-season run. Captain Lee Rosbach, who had been anchoring—pun intended—Below Deck since it debuted in 2013, made the difficult decision to leave the show last year due to medical issues. Taking over Captain Lee’s role for season 11 is Captain Kerry Titheradge, who previously starred in franchise spin-off Below Deck Adventure in 2022. “There’s no doubt I’ve got some big shoes to fill,” he says. “But hey, sounds like a challenge to me and I’m up for it.” The bottom line? Captain Kerry arrived in Grenada with a no-nonsense attitude and something to prove.