Later during the same interview, Chastain revealed that the tipping process seen on Below Deck is for the cameras. According to Chastain, the people who charter yachts don't give their tips to the captain in such a public and overt way.
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Most charter yachts distribute the tips equally between each crew member, regardless of their role. This is because it takes a team to ensure the overall success of a yacht charter, rather than any particular individual.
While most guests on the show are generous with their tips, there was one instance where the crew received no tip at all. In their very first charter back in 2013, the crew had to report illegal drug use by the guests, resulting in their removal from the yacht and no tip.
In addition to their salary for working the charter and doing the show, everyone gets a piece of the tips left behind by guests. Each cast member has a different position on the boat, and on the show, so their salary is based on their role.
According to Ben, serving as a Below Deck chef is the hardest job there is. You're on your own and you're in charge of provisioning, budgeting, it's a tiny little space, you have no help, he explained during Season 4 Episode 13 of the Below Deck Mediterranean After Show.
Whether the yacht is chartered or privately owned will all contribute to your monthly pay packet; your basic salary will be the same whether you work on a charter yacht or a private boat, though on a charter, you will generally receive tips; this usually around 10% of your monthly salary, or it can range between €1,500 ...
Production crew don't sleep on the yachtWith limited space on the yacht, it's already hard enough for the yachties to pretend the cameras aren't there. So when it comes time for the TV crew to clock-off for the day, they sleep on a separate boat or head to shore to stay in a hotel.
The Below Deck Crew Also Brings In TipsThe Captain usually makes between $150,000 to $210,000 a year working on a 185-foot superyacht, assuming the Captain is working full-time. Additionally, the Captain can make up to $100,000 on top of the salary they are getting if they charter their yacht for the entire year.
But the mega bucks go to the top dogs, Captain Lee and Captain Sandy, who on a 185-foot superyacht make between $150-$210,000 a year. Then you have to add on the tips, reportedly average at around $15,000 per person for about six weeks of work.