Captain Jason Says ‘Below Deck Down Under’ S2 Is ‘Intense, Dramatic And Emotional’
If you haven’t heard about Below Deck Down Under yet, let me be the first to apologise. The addictive reality TV show transports you into the luxury superyacht world, hitting the waters in North Queensland with the help of a hot Aussie captain, Kiwi fave Chief Stew Aesha Scott, and so much d-r-a-m-a.
The first episode of Season 2 has dropped on Hayu, and guys, it looks so spicy. From the teasers, we can expect some outrageous guests, a love pentagon, plus Captain Jason (with the fitting nickname of Captain Cutie) has to put his foot down when something goes terribly wrong.
In the first ep, there was a last-minute scramble when one of the crew members wasn’t able to get into Australia due to visa issues, the chef had a slight meltdown, and it ended on a cliffhanger. The tipsy charter guests decided to take a lil dip in the ocean at 2am, even after being firmly told not to.
Captain Jason Chambers had to march out of bed and tell the guests off, because you know, swimming, alcohol, box jellyfish and sharks really don’t mix. We’ll have to wait to see what happens next, but it looks like the superyacht is headed back to the marina.
Have I convinced you to watch it yet? If you’re still not fully on board, I talked to Captain Jason Chambers to get all the tea on what happens on Below Deck Down Under Season 2, from misbehaving guests to staff getting fired. Settle in and grab some popcorn, because there’s lots to unpack.
Everything I learned about Below Deck Down Under Season 2 from Punkee’s interview with Captain Jason Chambers:
Captain Jason on what we can expect from Below Deck Down Under Season 2:
“The whole season is very dramatic. It was emotional. But we came together as a team. And every time I thought I had all the pieces in the pie, I’d have to jump over a few more hurdles. I really enjoyed working with the crew that we had, they were a unique bunch.”
On how ‘outlandish’ the Below Deck Down Under Season 2 guests are:
“I’ve had some horror guests, but Season 2 tops it all. I think you’re going to be blown away. The guests this season are probably some of the most outlandish and dramatic yet, there’s a lot going on with the guests and crew this season. It’s gonna be a cracker.”
View this post on Instagram
On the guests that disobeyed the Captain and crew’s rules:
“You need to be wary of what’s underwater in far North Queensland. We Australians know what’s under there and we’re worried about it, but the American guests didn’t understand. You’ve got the tide, the current, plus box jellyfish and sharks. It’s something you shouldn’t be doing after dark for sure, let alone with how intoxicated they were.”
“It’s vital they follow the rules for their safety. It all falls back onto my ticket, my certification, which can be lost in a heartbeat if something goes wrong. I’m responsible for all lives on board, ad that’s why you have to listen to what I’m saying. I’m trying to protect them and myself.”
On firing one of the Below Deck Down Under crew members:
“I don’t want to terminate crew. Usually in our industry, you might have some time in between charters to work things out. However, on the show, we are trying to provide the audience with a successful nine charters and we only have six weeks to do it. So if I have to make a change for the better of the boat, for its functioning as a team, I will do that.”
“I’ll definitely make a change if there’s any harassment or bullying, or other issues that you will get to see in later episodes. It builds up into a pretty intense moment, so I can’t wait for the audience to see what happens. It’s gonna be worth the wait.”
On Captain Jason’s relationship with Aesha Scott:
“It’s really good to be working with Aesha again, we got along straightaway last season. We just knew we were there for the same reasons, to have fun, enjoy it and try to give the guests the best time, while also being relaxed. That’s what Aesha brings to the table, and it’s great knowing I’ve got that support mechanism. She’s my right-hand woman.”
On what the best things are about living and working on a superyacht:
“Look, it’s an amazing lifestyle, you get to see the sunrise, you get to explore different places, you meet so many different new people. I love meeting people, and I enjoy every minute of it.”
On what the worst things are about living and working on a superyacht:
“The worst thing is now I’ve got a child, so I’ve gotta try and find time for fatherhood, and yachting. And that’s the balance of life now. You’re also working a hell of a lot of long hours.”
“Also, as a captain or an engineer, we are in tune with noises. So as soon as we hear something, we’re out of our bed, we know there’s an issue that’s not normal. So we’ll investigate. So lack of sleep and fatigue is part of our life.”
On the love pentagon between the crew:
“In Season 1 we didn’t really have much romance but we had a lot of growth and that was fantastic, it’s totally different this year – it’s definitely on. But being the captain, I’m upstairs so I don’t get to see a lot of the crew’s antics below deck. I’m looking forward to seeing what happened when I wasn’t around.”
“I’ve had plenty of crew members ask me for love and life advice. If something’s bothering them at home or on board, I’m definitely always there to listen.”
I’m defs intrigued by all these bombshells, and I can’t wait to see how the love pentagon plays out. Watch this space, we’ll keep you updated.
You can stream brand-new Below Deck Down Under episodes each week on Hayu.
–
Image credits: Hayu, Below Deck Down Under
Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.