Since Bravo’s Below Deck first aired in 2013, its popularity has grown exponentially with viewers drawn to the compelling upstairs/downstairs format that has served as a pivotal point for all the drama and antics taking place aboard the superyachts each season. The beautiful locations, meanwhile, have provided the perfect backdrop for every instalment of the show and its subsequent spin-off series.
The show’s inaugural season premiered in the Caribbean, which covered a number of superyacht hotspots in the region, kicking off the show in spectacular style from the charming Leeward Island of St Martin – which also provided the tropical setting for Below Deck season 5.
Since then, this glittering archipelago has featured in no less than four seasons of Below Deck, including the beautiful islands of St Kitts & Nevis (season 9) and Antigua (season 8) – the undisputed superyacht hub of the Caribbean.
Located between Puerto Rico and Dominica, the Leeward islands offer an intoxicating mix of sublime white sand beaches, glamorous 5-star resorts and stunning natural beauty, not to mention astonishing clear waters brimming with life, as well as an array of superb marinas, making this region ideal cruising territory for superyachts and their guests.
Featuring in season 2 of Bravo’s original reality series, the British Virgin Islands created a picture-perfect backdrop to the show, with the archipelago’s largest island of Tortola, as well as party island Jost van Dyke and the eternally exquisite Virgin Gorda, providing most of the glorious scenery.
Some of the highlights of a private yacht charter here include the BVI’s most famous landmark, The Baths in Virgin Gorda’s 7-acre National Park – a natural phenomenon of towering boulders and beautiful jade-green sea grottos, as well as the legendary Soggy Dollar Bar and Foxy’s – famous for its New Year's Eve parties on the island of Jost van Dyke, and Smuggler’s Cove – an instagram-worthy beach tucked away on Tortola’s west coast, featuring implausibly clear blue waters perfect for snorkeling.
Below Deck also returned to the Virgin islands for its 4th season, this time around the beautiful US Virgin Islands, including popular tourist hubs St Thomas, St Croix and the tranquil island of St John.
Season 10 of Below Deck centered around the alluring island of St Lucia, home to the majestic twin peaks of the Pitons that set off the stunning scenery for the reality show’s latest season.
Known as the “Jewel of the Windward Islands”, St Lucia plays host to an array of idyllic beaches, picturesque harbors and chic restaurants. Her lush jungle-clad interior is awash with an abundance of tropical flora and fauna, offering a heady scent for anyone undertaking the popular hike up the island’s 3,000-foot Mount Gimie.
While not strictly part of the Caribbean, the Bahamas were the destination of choice for Below Deck's season 3; a yacht paradise of pellucid turquoise waters teeming with life and tropical islands that have become a playground for the SuperyachtSet and A-listers looking to escape the winter blues.
In 2016, the first season of Below Deck Mediterranean graced our screens, where the show’s producers shrewdly opted to foreground Greece’s beautiful Cyclades archipelago for its inaugural season.
Home to the iconic blue-domed white-washed buildings that are synonymous with images of Greece, this group of islands has proved fertile cruising grounds for luxury yacht charters for years, whose guests come to immerse themselves in the islands’ rich cultural heritage, stunning beaches and breathtaking scenic beauty, not to mention the glamorous party scene.
Comprising a number of celebrated islands, including Mykonos and Santorini, yacht charter itineraries here are brimming with opportunities as the activities and sightseeing options are endless, and with each island only a stone's throw from each other, you can change your scenery at a moment’s notice.
Interestingly, a similar location decision was made for Below Deck Sailing Yacht’s premier season on board yacht PARSIFAL III, this time set around Greece’s Ionian island of Corfu.
The island’s natural beauty has been committed to celluloid several times over, featuring in a number of TV and films over the years, including James Bond’s For Your Eyes Only and the Bafta-nominated TV series The Durrell’s.
Corfu is part of Greece’s Ionian archipelago; a chain of strikingly beautiful islands, characterized by lush mountainous interiors, dramatic coastlines, charming fishing villages, intriguing cultural heritage and some of the finest beaches in Greece.
One of the most popular destinations for superyacht charters in the East Mediterranean, Croatia is awash with ancient archaeological treasures, seriously beautiful landscapes and endless idyllic islands and islets peppered across the region, which is probably why this gem of the Adriatic has featured in 3 seasons of the Below Deck franchise; seasons 2 and 6 of Below Deck Mediterranean and season 2 of Below Deck Sailing yacht.
Boasting over 1,200 islands, glorious balmy climate and deeply rich history, not to mention low VAT rate compared with its West Mediterranean cousins, its small wonder Croatia is a superyacht paradise during the summer months and beyond.
The Below Deck yachts traveled to a number of popular hotspots within the region, including the UNESCO Heritage city of Dubrovnik, Croatia’s “jewel” Spilt and the beautiful Šibenik, as well as popping across its southern border to enjoy the facilities at the award-winning marina at Porto Montenegro.
Other Mediterranean destinations visited by yachts on the show include Italy's famous Amalfi Coast (season 3), the eternally glamorous French Riviera (season 4), the popular Spanish archipelago of the Balearics (season 5), and the historic splendor of Malta, which is the location for Below Deck Mediterranean’s latest season 7 featuring the indomitable Captain Sandy Yawn on board superyacht HOME.
For seasons 6, Below Deck broke with tradition and headed to the South Pacific outpost of Tahiti, where filming took place on board superyacht STARSHIP (previously M/Y SEANNA) with the show’s stalwart Captain Lee Rosbach.
Set amongst a scattering of idyllic islands in the French Polynesia archipelago, Tahiti is that rare blend of paradisiacal beauty with a cosmopolitan twist courtesy of its rich cultural links with France as a protectorate of that country. Guests on yacht charters here can immerse themselves in the island's extraordinary blue-lagoon-like beauty while still able to enjoy the finest cuisine, boutique shopping and myriad excellent facilities offered by a host of luxury resorts.
Below Deck Season 7, meanwhile, continued with the tropical theme, this time foregrounding the unparalleled beauty of Thailand, with Ao Po Grand Marina in Phuket providing the home port for motor yacht BG (previously VALOR) during the show.
Filming took place around the beautiful islands of the Andaman Sea, including Phang Nga Bay, home to 100 islands and a wealth of majestic limestone karsts, including Koh Ta-pu – one of Thailand’s most famous landmarks that appeared in the James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun. Soaring 20 meters above the water, the tall vertical rock can be taken in from the sandy shores of Koh Phing Ghan.
Other notable filming locations include the famous Phi Phi Islands, home to Maya Bay – the idyllic setting for the 1999 filmThe Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio, as well as Ko Poda island renowned for its vast stretches of powder-fine sand beaches and excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities.
The latest Below Deck iterations; Below Deck Down Under and Below Deck Adventure, have broken the mold yet further with adrenalin-fuelled adventures adding to the mix.
Below Deck Down Under is set in Australia’s sublime Whitsundays; a heavenly cluster of islands located 34 miles off the coast of Queensland. Characterized by its array of dreamy islands fringed by white sands and intense turquoise-blue waters that form part of the Great Barrier Reef – one of the world’s seven natural wonders – this region offers prime cruising grounds for luxury yacht rentals.
Meanwhile Below Deck Adventure is set in the sub-Arctic wilderness of Norway, where the setting of glacial fjords and majestic mountain peaks form part of the show’s action, with guests partaking in a series of high-octane thrills and spills throughout the season.
Norway is fast becoming a hotspot for superyachts eschewing the usual Mediterranean and Caribbean destinations for the more unique experiences on offer in this beautiful part of the world. Renowned for its dramatic scenery, sheer raw beauty, michelin-star dining experiences and the iconic Northern Lights, luxury yacht charters around this Scandinavian region promise to be nothing short of magical.
If you’d like to learn more about any of the destinations mentioned in this article, check out our comprehensive destinations guides, which include top tips, points of interest and sample itineraries for inspiration.
For more information about booking private yacht rentals, please reach out to your preferred yacht charter broker. Alternatively, browse the complete fleet of superyachts available for charter.
