It would be difficult to find a Bravo fan who doesn’t adore Fraser Olender. The Chief Stew is skilled, dedicated, witty, and has been a familiar face on the Below Deck franchise for the past five seasons. After four seasons in the Caribbean, Olender and the flagship series headed to Thailand for a fresh setting. “It was time for something new and fresh,” he explained.
Captain Kerry Titheradge is at the helm of the Azul V, marking his third season working alongside Olender. Over time, the pair have developed an especially strong partnership. “He loves to have a laugh, but he knows when to get serious and work,” Olender said. “We’re very similar in that way.” Olender and Titheradge, along with returning stew Rainbeau de Roos, are leading a new crew of yachties, including Bosun Alex Wright and Chef Moe Vilomar, as they navigate another season of the beloved franchise.
Olender was delighted to welcome de Roos back for her second season. “I knew there were things Rainbeau needed to work on, but ultimately, she’s an incredible stewardess,” he said. “I trusted her from the beginning, so I was very happy to have her back.” Having worked with de Roos during the previous season, Olender had no hesitation about naming her his second stew, despite Rosa Simms-Preston’s disappointment. Although he recognized Simms-Preston’s experience, his decision was always clear. “There was never a point when I was going to have anyone else as my second,” he said.
Olender visited the Decider studio to discuss the new season, unpack the crew’s relationships, and share his reaction to one of Bravo’s most talked-about hookups.
DECIDER: You’re back for Season 13, but this time the crew is in Thailand. How did you feel about the change of scenery?
FRASER OLENDER: I was so excited to go somewhere different. We had spent the previous four years in the Caribbean, and this is my fifth season. It felt like the right time for a new and unfamiliar experience. I had never been to Thailand before, so I was extremely happy to be there.
I read that the Azul V has two stew pantries. Did the yacht’s layout help your team, or did it create challenges?
The latter. The setup was a major obstacle. The boat was very old this season, and maneuvering around it was difficult for both the deck crew and the interior team. We were really put through it. I miss the St. David very much.
You and Captain Kerry seem to work exceptionally well together. What should a yachtie know before working with him for the first time?
Kerry is a fun guy. He enjoys laughing and having a good time, but he also knows exactly when it’s time to get serious and work. We’re very alike in that respect. We both love the job and everything that comes with it, but our priority is always completing what needs to be done. We can move easily between those two sides of ourselves.
Moe Vilomar is one of the most memorable chefs we’ve seen on Below Deck in a while. What was your first impression of him?
I loved Moe right away. He was incredibly easygoing, calm, composed, and funny. I also loved his food. I have absolutely no notes for Moe.
I was thrilled to see Rainbeau return. Did you have any reservations about working with her again? The odds of having another Solène seemed pretty low.
I knew Rainbeau still had certain things to improve, but she is ultimately an exceptional stewardess. I trusted her immediately, so I was very pleased to have her back. She did a fantastic job this season.
Did you ever think about choosing Rosa as your second stew instead of Rainbeau?
Not even for a moment. I don’t know what everyone else expected, but having experience as a chief doesn’t automatically make someone the right second stew for me. I knew what Rainbeau was capable of, and there was never a point when I planned to choose anyone else.
Do you think Rosa was against Rainbeau from the beginning? She broke down in tears during their first late shift after Rainbeau made some fairly simple, direct requests.
Yes, I don’t think they were ever destined to become best friends. Their communication styles simply weren’t compatible. They were never going to be the ideal pairing, which is probably why I shouldn’t have scheduled them both for lates. But there’s not much we can do about that now.
Interdepartmental tension is inevitable, but I didn’t like seeing Rosa rile up Kaylee Brown over the Matt Fitzpatrick-Buck dinner situation and turn it into an “us versus her” conflict. Do you think Rosa meant to do that, or was she simply looking for someone to vent to?
Rosa definitely enjoys venting, and it’s always helpful to have someone in the interior you can talk with. Maybe she was stirring the pot a little, but ultimately, nothing came of it. It was all a waste of energy.
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I can already see where things may be headed with Matt and Kaylee. Did you think Kaylee was moving too quickly with him?
Without question. Kaylee enjoys that kind of attention, and she likes becoming involved in something that makes her feel secure and adored. That’s what she’s doing here. She can be a little reckless, although she’s also a lot of fun. Every season, I seem to have the youngest person on the crew, and I think that’s Kaylee this year.
Will Matt end up teaching Kaylee another difficult lesson?
Without giving anything away, I think it’s fairly clear that Kaylee is going to learn a tough lesson from this.
Do you believe Rainbeau’s interest in Matt was genuinely just friendly?
I don’t think Rainbeau had any intention of taking someone else’s man or being disloyal to her own relationship. She was simply approaching the situation in a funny way. She was very much in love, so there was no reason for it to become such a major storyline.
I also feel for Alex this season because he appears overwhelmed at times. Did you realize he was struggling to lead the deck team?
I really didn’t. You see everything, while we only experience our own small perspective as we rush around doing our jobs. I had no idea any of that was happening. Something occurs very early in the season, over the next few episodes, that changes the way everyone views Alex for the better. He is an incredible person, and I will always have his back.
I wasn’t a fan of the apparent mutiny that his lead deckhand, Matt, was trying to organize against him. Should Matt have spoken with Alex first, or was he right to go directly to Captain Kerry?
I don’t think speaking to Alex would have made a difference. Telling Alex that he wanted his job was certainly not a smart move. What Matt was doing felt shady and underhanded, but some people will do whatever they believe is necessary to reach the top. That was the approach he chose.
At the end of last week’s episode, a drunk tourist harassed the women as the group made its way to dinner. How serious was the situation?
It was frightening, and we have to credit Moe for stepping in and protecting us. We attract a lot of attention when we’re filming in public, and unfortunately, it isn’t always positive. Much like the people you encounter in a comment section, those individuals exist in real life, too. We deal with them, ignore them, and ultimately, they’re the ones who make themselves look terrible.
Summer House star Lindsay Hubbard revealed that she and Below Deck Med’s Joe Bradley have been hooking up. What do you think of the pair?
Honestly, great. I have no thoughts on it [laughs]. I know Joe because we’re part of the same universe, but I don’t think it’s gone anywhere. I suppose we can let that story fade away now.
Have you heard anything about the upcoming Summer House/Below Deck Med crossover?
I haven’t. I’ve been staying out of it for now, but I’m sure I’ll hear some entertaining details soon.
Finally, what can you tease about the rest of the season?
A lot happens during the rest of the season. There are some unprecedented moments—things I’ve never seen happen on Below Deck before. I know we say that every year, but something genuinely unusual takes place and is handled in a very interesting way. It was fascinating to watch, and I loved it. This season feels very different from the ones before it. We’re a fun, close-knit group, and this is probably my favorite season so far.
New episodes of Below Deck air Mondays at 8 PM ET on Bravo.