Summary

• Below Deck season 2 was a turning point for Below Deck Mediterranean, with new crew members and dramatic storylines that laid the foundation for future seasons.
• Below Deck Adventure season 1 provided viewers with an exciting and dramatic look into the world of luxury yacht charters, showcasing the trials and triumphs of the crew.
• Below Deck season 5 brought a burst of new energy to the flagship show with a ship full of inexperienced hands, refreshing the series and keeping it strong.

With Below Deck season 10 wrapped up and Below Deck Mediterranean season 7 in the books, fans of the franchise have many memorable seasons to look back on. Spread across five different series, the over-the-top antics of the high-profile luxury yacht industry have made for amazing reality TV.

No matter what ship the audience sails with, they are guaranteed an exciting and dramatic time on the high seas. Though the shows have always been must-watch TV, some seasons of the franchise left a lasting impression on viewers due to the high-scale drama and earned much higher scores.

10 Below Deck Mediterranean Season 2

Like its predecessor, Mediterranean had a rocky first season but came into its own by season 2. Almost completely replacing the cast from season 1, Sirocco's crew was all-new, and what made the season great was learning about them. Hannah and Bobby's bond was tested throughout the season as the two veterans split over handling day-to-day operations in the face of a new captain and crew. Love triangles formed, and the entire season exploded when Bugsy and Hannah had a massive falling out. Though the show would get more dramatic as the years progressed, season 2 planted many seeds that would pay off later.

9 Below Deck Adventure Season 1

Below Deck Adventure season 1 was a successful spin-off that followed the high-seas adventures of the crew aboard a luxury yacht, The Mercury, and catering to the needs and demands of wealthy charter guests as they sailed through the Fjords of Norway. The crew faced various challenges throughout the season, including demanding charter guests, tight working conditions, and interpersonal conflicts. The season offered viewers an exciting and often dramatic look into the world of luxury yacht charters, showcasing the trials and triumphs of the crew as they worked together. So far, there's only been one season.

8 Below Deck Season 5

The fifth season of the flagship show was a turnover year, and a ship full of inexperienced hands was a recipe for instant drama. Because the show is a reality program and essentially runs on drama, the arrival of new crew members was like a refresh button that kept the show from growing stale. Even with new crew members, the veterans continued to grow into their characters, and Kate had a particularly illuminating season when she went ashore. Though it was tough to let go of some familiar faces, season 5 was a burst of new energy that kept the show strong.

7 Below Deck Mediterranean Season 4

Once again returning to the Sirocco, and with a primarily new crew in tow, Mediterranean's season 4 was anything but a mid-run low point. Some familiar faces returned from season 3 to be a guiding voice, but the new crew members were what made the season shine. The coast of France was the setting for the season, and its beautiful vistas are the backdrop to some fantastic inter-crew drama. Aside from that, the antics of guests like former baseball star Johnny Damon were the cherry on top of an entertaining season.

6 Below Deck Season 7

Though the show has slowly become more and more over-the-top with each subsequent season, a perfect balance was reached in the seventh year. The ship set sail to Thailand to start the season, and the return of memorable charter guests improved the show. The humor was ramped up, but there were also shocking, dramatic moments, including Kate's near departure from the show. While it had come a long way since season 1 and was almost unrecognizable, season 7 is considered the original series's last great season.

5 Below Deck Season 3

Like Mediterranean, Below Deck's season 3 was an improvement because it was a growth and continuation of ideas in the second year. The over-the-top drama that would characterize the show started to creep in, but there was still much yachting action. Eddie's shocking return was a perfect hook for the season to come, and there was tension in the episodes that built around scandals and relationship drama. Though some of the fakest things about the show began to enter into the mix by season 3, it was never a tedious watch.

4 Below Deck Season 10

The latest installment of the original Below Deck was well-received by fans. One of the season's biggest storylines was the conflict between Alissa and Camille. Alissa was a new stew struggling to learn the ropes, and Camille was a more experienced stew frustrated by Alissa's mistakes. The two women clashed multiple times, and their feud eventually led to Camille's firing. Another major storyline of the season was Fraser's coming out story. His story helped to raise awareness about LGBTQ+ issues in the yachting industry.

The season also featured several other memorable moments, including a boat party that got out of control, a romantic connection between Hayley and Tyler, and a surprise visit from Captain Lee Rosbach, who won't be returning as Below Deck season 11 cast member.

3 Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 2

Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 2 is another fan-favorite installment of the franchise. Captain Glenn Shephard returned for his second season at the helm of Parsifal III, and he was joined by a new crew of officers, including First Mate Gary King, Chief Stew Daisy Kelliher, and Bosun Jean-Luc Cerza Lanaux. The crew also included three new stews: Dani Soares, Alli Dore, and Sydney Zaruba, and two new deckhands, Madison Stalker and Paget Berry.

One of the biggest storylines of the season was the love triangle between Daisy, Gary, and Alli. Daisy had a crush on Gary, but Gary was dating Alli. The situation became even more complicated when Alli found out that Gary had kissed Daisy. Alli was devastated, and she broke up with Gary. Daisy and Gary eventually got together, but their relationship was short-lived.

2 Below Deck Mediterranean Season 5

Below Deck Mediterranean Season 5 followed the crew of the luxury yacht The Wellington as they chartered the Balearic Islands of Spain. Captain Sandy Yawn returned for her third season at the helm of The Wellington, and she was joined by crew including First Mate Malia White, Chief Stew Hannah Ferrier, and Bosun Alex Radcliffe. The crew also included two new stews, Bugsy Drake and Jess More, and two new deckhands, Kiko Lorran and Robert Westergaard.

One of the season's biggest storylines was the conflict between Hannah and Malia. Hannah was a longtime crew member on Below Deck Med, and Malia was a new crew member eager to prove herself. The two women clashed on multiple occasions, and their feud eventually led to Hannah's firing on Below Deck Med.

1 Below Deck Season 2

Though Below Deck's season 1 was essential and helped launch it into a franchise, season 2 is where the show blossomed. Weaving its narrative quite fluently, the season set itself apart from most other reality shows by telling a complete story that includes all its characters. Relationships were formed and tested throughout the season, and whether deckhands were fighting or flirting, it seemed as if there was always something interesting going on. A good reality show needs balance, and Below Deck season 2 was able to perfectly mix its drama with the behind-the-scenes antics that made the show enjoyable in the first place. It forever remains the best installment of the series.

Below Deck Mediterranean airs on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET.

• 

  Below Deck

  Created by:

  Mark Cronin, Rebecca Taylor Henning, Doug Henning

  First TV Show:

  Below Deck

  Cast:

  Kate Chastain, Gary King, Mads Herrera, Daisy Kelliher, Colin Macrae, Aesha Scott, Lexi Wilson, Glenn Shephard, Jason Chambers, Marcos Spaziani, Sandy Yawn

  TV Show(s):

  Below Deck, Below Deck Adventure, Below Deck Down Under, Below Deck Mediterranean, Below Deck Sailing Yacht