The Valor’s chief stew also shares her No. 1 tip for first-time charter guests.
Vacationing Below Deck-style does not come cheap.
“Generally a boat that size, 150 foot -- this one's 160, Valor -- but around that price range, for seven days, is around $150,000,” star Kate Chastain spills to ET. “But that does not include airfare, fuel, food, wine, docking, tip. So, I would say for a boat like Valor, for a week vacation, it would be around a quarter of a million dollars.”
The hefty price tag, of course, comes with first-class service, largely courtesy of Kate -- especially this season.
“Not only was I picking up some slack for [my crew], but they didn't realize I was,” she laments. “They weren't, like, grateful for it, which was annoying. It was this horrible cycle … I actually am surprised I haven't gotten a few messages, like, 'Oh my gosh, Kate.' None, I don't think, so far.”
‘When you've been in yachting for a while, you can tell if somebody steps on the boat, within five minutes, if they're a yachtie or not,” Kate notes. “It's very specific. There's something about being socially aware. The questions you ask, the questions you don't ask … you just know. So, I think Captain Lee can tell what we're dealing with.”
It’s not always easy dealing with demanding guests, either. The 34-year-old has had her fair share of not-so-nice charters -- all documented in her memoir, Lucky Charming, and in all her time yachting, she’s come up with one simple rule all guests should abide by.
“Just trust that your crew has it under control,” she adheres. “You don't need to be ordering the drinks [rapidly], because, actually, the only person you're hurting is yourself. Because if I'm running around making your crazy, you know, special ingredient mojito, I don't have time to plan this super amazing themed-party that you didn't even know was coming. Trust your chief stew.”
Below Deck airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo. Check out the video below for more from our chat with Kate.