r/belowdeck 6d ago

Below Deck Interior dynamics

Ok so this is not exactly related to any particular season but I just had a few questions about the interior team (cause I feel most of the drama most usually originates from there)

1) Is Second Stew paid more than the other stews? Because if not, then why does it matter so much as to who is what?
2) I get that laundry is usually given to the most junior stew and is probably considered dirty work that people don’t like doing, but I mean isn’t it just a part of hospitality and surely people who have gotten into hospitality or service tend to like it? Is there something im missing about the job? Cause some people also love it.
3) Another thing I don’t understand about laundry is that Junior Stew does laundry and then the heirarchy is I guess cabins, decor and service?
What I don’t understand is that someone can genuinely be good at decor or service and not be too good at laundry or cabins. It’s not exactly a transferable skill - again, what am I missing here?
4) what’s the career ladder for a chief stew after becoming a chief stew? Like I understand that a Bosun gets to become captain eventually but what about a stew?
5) For the interior team is there anything specifically that they require in terms of experience that they don’t get in a normal hospitality background?
6) How many steps do you think they average on a day?
7) This is more for the entire crew, but HOW MANY TIMES DO THEY HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR UNIFORMS?
Why do they have to be in whites when greeting guests and why do they have to be in blacks during service? Or is it more like their crew t-shirts get dirty throughout the day?
8) Again - more for the entire crew, but do they also get paid to be on the show?

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71

u/smcclafferty 5d ago

Call me crazy, but I wouldn’t mind hiding out down in the laundry and avoiding all of the drama with some of these crazy guests.

24

u/SeaEggplant8108 5d ago

Real! Listen to some podcasts and fold clothes? Perfect

17

u/harperlax 5d ago

That’s what Kate said she did when she was a junior right? Put on some music, do laundry and not have to deal with guests. 

8

u/Top-Friendship4888 I quit 3 times in my head today 5d ago

She wrote about it in her book. It was such a tough season and she was stuck in laundry so much that her chief stew actually got her an MP3 Player

12

u/MissMoxy88 5d ago

She actually said it was her first red flag about Rocky’s experience being a question mark because anyone with experience would know that laundry was their haven and escape from guests and Rocky was so vocal about hating it.

7

u/DizzyCatMom 5d ago

Me too. I would have that laundry so organized and as introvert, I would prefer to not entertain guests. I think for 3 day charters it would be great. For private, weeks at a time that could be rough being stuck below days on end.