Below Deck Season 13 premieres in Thailand aboard the Azul V

Ahoy mates, and welcome to Phuket! As Captain Kerry puts it in a moment of poetic inspiration, the waters there are like the creation of the earth. Below Deck Season 13 kicked off its premiere in Thailand aboard the new-old Azul V, bringing back familiar faces alongside a fresh crew while establishing immediate workplace tension.

Stepping Aboard the Azul V

Following a frustrating previous season marked by catastrophic boatmances and uninteresting workplace drama, returning crew members are attempting to leave past baggage behind. Mainstay chief stew Fraser Olender reunited with returning stewardess Rainbeau, offering a sweet and eager greeting before promising that he will not hesitate to make changes. However, Fraser also told Rainbeau that he expects her to be softer and have some patience, while handing her a huge list of responsibilities before even naming her second stew. Rainbeau admitted she has been working on coming across as less harsh and rude.

Captain Kerry Warns Crew About Thailand Waterways

At the first all-crew meeting, Captain Kerry warned the team that the weather in Thailand can change on a dime and the waterways are crowded, telling everyone that if something feels off, say something. Kerry also cautioned that while he acts as their biggest ally, he can be something else as well and will not hesitate to replace people if needed. Department-specific meetings introduced new crewmates including Alex from London as the new bosun, who brings a hands-off management style after an eight-month break from yachting. Joining him on deck are Matt, a South African deckhand who has been a bosun for over two years; James, a greener British deckie with two years in yachting; and Jessenia—who prefers to be called Sen—a newcomer to yachting who previously worked on tugboats. Reflecting on her experience in a male-dominated field, Sen confidently told Alex, I’m literally just like one of the guys, but with better lashes and hotter.