‘Below Deck’ Season 12 Just Sank After Shocking Boat Breakdown and Tip Disaster

Below Deck Season 12 literally hit a breaking point when the helm station was inoperable, causing the high-paying charter guests to miss out on the vacation of a lifetime. By not leaving the dock for three days despite high-class service, the charter guests snubbed the crew with a $19,000 tip. But was it their fault for a boat error?

Upon learning that St. David was not going to leave the dock, Captain Kerry Titheradge, Chef Anthony Iracane, and Chief Stew Frasier Olender leaped into action to ensure that the service side of the experience was top-notch. But on the final day, still on the dock, the guests spoke among themselves, saying, “No tip is not a reflection of our group, it’s a reflection of our circumstances.” While it may be a valid statement, Below Deck and its spin-offs have had a history of dock-based charters that have still resulted in compensation for the crew. The question remains: Who suffers from the mistake in the end? In this case, it was the St. David crew.

The ‘Below Deck’ St. David Crew Suffered From a Yacht Error

Between unruly guests that crossed the line, individuals who used a UV light to check the cabins, and highly demanding porn stars, Season 12 has been a nightmare charter season for the crew. As far as wild individuals, this group was anything but. In fact, if they had the full St. David experience, they might have earned the best group of the season. Because of a mechanical error and the inability to receive the part to fix it, the entire crew worked overtime to deliver the best time possible. Chef Anthony cooked up delicious meals. The interior team threw a 70s-themed banger and took the guests on a sunset cruise in the tender. The deck team did what they could with limited resources. Still, it was a fabulous time. Not what they dreamed of, but five-star service nevertheless.

Primary guest Ron spoke to Captain Kerry about his friend’s reluctance to provide a tip. Though Captain Kerry assured him that this is the service industry, “the house makes a mistake, the staff shouldn’t suffer,” it was still a poor tip. Captain Kerry went to bat for his team, asking the yacht agent to work out a front-end deal with the guests, but the poor tip hurt the overall morale in the moment. The chain reaction caused Kyle Stillie to begin drinking early, which led to his hit piece speech against Fraser at dinner, causing him to leave the table. Below Deck’s work and play came to a head due to a situation out of the crew’s control. So, is that just the nature of the service industry?

‘Below Deck’ Crews Have Faced Dock Dilemmas Before

Image via Bravo

So who is right in this situation? Below Deck has had a history of mechanical problems and weather-related woes that prevented full-fledged charter experiences, but the St. David crew, for their part, did everything in their control to ensure an exceptional guest experience. The tip sadly didn’t reflect as such. When issues arise, the entire crew must work as a unit to adjust the plans. Whether it’s beach days, parties on board, or pretending as if there is nothing going wrong, diverting attention from dock dilemmas is crucial.

Before the charter season even began, Below Deck Sailing Yacht’s fourth season almost never happened due to a major mechanical issue on Parsifall III. Thankfully, Chief Engineer Colin MacRae ultimately saved the day before the entire season went under. During Season 8 of Below Deck Mediterranean, Captain Sandy Yawn had to be the bearer of bad news as gale-force winds prevented motoryacht Mustique from leaving the dock. But, as the seasoned professional she was, she spoke to the guests up front so they were not anticipating a vacation they were never going to get. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen with Captain Kerry as he hoped the part would arrive on time. Below Deck is a reflection of real-life yachting. There are no refunds for errors, but a strong leader can ensure that, even in unfortunate circumstances, the guests have the best experience.

Below Deck airs Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. All episodes are available to stream on Peacock.