Below Deck

10 Best Episodes of Below Deck - Season 1

Below Deck is an American reality television series airing on Bravo that premiered on July 2, 2013. The show follows a crew of "yachties" who live, love and work together onboard a luxurious mega yacht. It has aired 11 seasons and has become a fan favorite. If you’re looking to get caught up with the show, here are some of the best episodes of Below Deck ranked.

These episodes are the best of the best, as ranked by fans. From the most shocking moments to the biggest meltdowns, these episodes showcase the best of what this show has to offer. From the hilarious pranks to the intense drama, these episodes have it all.

So, if you’re looking for the best of Below Deck, look no further. Here are the best episodes of Below Deck ranked.

Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 28, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

Advertisement
Below Deck - S1E5

#11 - I'm Living with the Devil (Season 1 - Episode 5)

With her job on the line, Kat is forced to admit an embarrassing secret to Captain Lee. Kat continues to deal with the obnoxious charter guests who have been very inappropriate with her. C.J. tells Sam he has feelings for her, but isn't sure that Sam feels the same way. Adrienne, Kat, and Sam have a heated argument about the division of labor on the boat. With her job on the line, Kat is forced to admit an embarrassing secret to Captain Lee. When the crew gets a night out, Sam sets her sights on a few attractive guys in the bar, but C.J. is having none of it and does whatever he can to derail her flirting.

The episode was rated 6.98 from 176 votes.

Below Deck - S1E6

#10 - Sleeping with the Enemy (Season 1 - Episode 6)

Advertisement

The charter guests throw the crew into a frenzy when they decide at the last minute to have an onboard wedding. At this point, Kat is completely fed up with Adrienne and begins hatching a plan to switch rooms in order get away from her nemesis. The charter guests throw the crew into a frenzy when they decide at the last minute to have an onboard wedding. Ben's temperamental moodiness is starting to rub some of his fellow crewmates the wrong way. All the romance on the boat is making David very homesick for his fiancée Trevor -- and the time apart is making David question whether yachting is the life for him. Adrienne is feeling ostracized by her crewmates, and it's taking its toll -- will she make it, or is she on the verge of breaking down?

The episode was rated 7.05 from 166 votes.

Below Deck - S1E11

#9 - The Crew Tells All (Season 1 - Episode 11)

None

The episode was rated 7.05 from 74 votes.

Below Deck - S1E4

#8 - Luggage, Luggage Everywhere (Season 1 - Episode 4)

Advertisement

When a charter guest is highly inappropriate with Kat, her reaction to it puts her in very hot water with Captain Lee. In the aftermath of their hook-up the night before, Sam and C.J. are now unsure about the nature of their relationship. After an onboard alarm catches the crew off-guard, Captain Lee comes down hard on Aleks. The new charter guests are friends of Adrienne's, and to nobody's surprise, their annoying behavior makes life difficult for the crew, especially Ben and Sam. When a charter guest is highly inappropriate with Kat, her reaction to it puts her in very hot water with Captain Lee.

The episode was rated 7.07 from 202 votes.

Below Deck - S1E2

#7 - It's Not Easy Being Green (Season 1 - Episode 2)

The crew enjoys a night out, but Kat enjoys a few too many cocktails. Meanwhile, the new charter guests, a wealthy hypnotist and his friends, come aboard and their special dietary demands tax the crew to the breaking point. After driving Kat and Sam especially hard, the uptight Adrienne agrees to a hypnotherapy session that will hopefully chill her out.

The episode was rated 7.11 from 223 votes.

Below Deck - S1E8

#6 - There's a New Captain in Town (Season 1 - Episode 8)

Advertisement

C.J.'s a rebel without a clue, and everyone's starting to take notice. When he outwardly defies both Aleks and Lee, he must suffer the consequences. Kat tries to figure out exactly where she stands with Ben, but Ben has a serious issue with the amount Kat drinks. Despite her better judgment, Sam devises a plan to spend some alone time with C.J. while the rest of the crew toils. The secret rendezvous blows up in their faces, threatening to destroy close friendships and leaving their jobs hanging in the balance.

The episode was rated 7.16 from 166 votes.

Below Deck - S1E10

#5 - Reunion (Season 1 - Episode 10)

Hosted by Bravo’s Andy Cohen, the reunion brings Adrienne Gang, Aleks Taldykin, Ben Robinson, C.J. Lebeau, David Bradberry, Eddie Lucas, Kat Held, and Sam Orme to discuss some of the most talked about antics of the first season. Captain Lee also joins the crew to give his perspective on this season’s charters.

The episode was rated 7.16 from 106 votes.

Below Deck - S1E1

#4 - Cool Your Jets (Season 1 - Episode 1)

Advertisement

The Honor crew welcomes their first group of charter guests: a gaggle of flamboyant fashion photographers who prove to be a boatload of trouble. Kat makes a shocking discovery that forces her into an agonizing decision; should she rat out the guests and ruin the charter, or risk serious consequences by turning a blind-eye? Adrienne chews out Sam for failing to respect her authority, but Sam refuses to back down and the two stews butt heads.

The episode was rated 7.17 from 283 votes.

Below Deck - S1E3

#3 - Dude, That's a Dude, Dude (Season 1 - Episode 3)

Sam and CJ take their flirting to the next level after a night out. The Honor's new charter guests are five single guys who enlist Dave and Eddie as wingmen in their quest to pick up women. After a night of trolling the local clubs, the charter guests bring back a special friend who isn't quite what they were looking for. It's Dave's birthday and his boyfriend has a very special surprise in store for him. There is definite dissent in the stewardess ranks as Adrienne, Kat and Sam continue to have big problems working with one another. Sam and CJ take their flirting to the next level after a night out.

The episode was rated 7.18 from 173 votes.

Below Deck - S1E7

#2 - Naughty Yachties (Season 1 - Episode 7)

Advertisement

Because of an unexpected charter cancellation the crew is left to their own devices for a few days. Unfortunately, Captain Lee has his own plans about how those days should be spent. When the captain sets up a surprise fire drill, Aleks takes the heat for the ill-prepared crew. One night the crew enjoys a nice beachside dinner off the yacht, but the boisterous shenanigans of a few leave Eddie and David fuming. Much to Kat's chagrin, Adrienne and Ben seem to be getting very close, and when Kat puts her feelings out there for Ben to see, she alienates him even more. And when she launches a drunken rebellion against the Captain, it may very well cost her job.

The episode was rated 7.20 from 178 votes.

Below Deck - S1E9

#1 - Land Ahoy... Finally (Season 1 - Episode 9)

It's the crew's final charter, and they're sea weary and ready for the charter season to end, but their spirits pick up when a group of fun and energetic female charter guests come aboard with energy to spare. Adrienne's overly friendly, overtly flirty attitude toward the guests causes the rest of the crew to mock her mercilessly. The shocking, unexpected departure of one of the crewmembers leaves the staff reeling, but with one last charter ahead they'll need to put their egos aside and work together to make this a smooth trip. After butting heads with nearly every person on-board, Adrienne finally reaches her breaking point.

The episode was rated 7.26 from 169 votes.

Search for TV shows...

About Series with Sophie

Welcome to our community!

We are a community of women who are passionate about our favorite series and want to share that passion with others.

Our mission is to create a space where women can discover new content, connect with like-minded individuals, and engage in meaningful discussions about the series we love.

We believe that everyone should have access to reliable and trustworthy information about their favorite shows, and we strive to be the premier destination for women seeking that information. Whether you're looking for recaps, fan theories, or just want to connect with other fans, we've got you covered.

So join us and be a part of our growing community of series enthusiasts!