Below Deck: 10 Best Chief Stews, Ranked

In 2013, Bravo released Below Deck, a reality show focusing on the lives of those working on mega yachts. Everyone from the captain to the chef to the chief stewardesses was shown, as fans learned more about their line of work and the highs and lows that come with it. One of the highest roles on the vessel is a Chief Stew. Chief stews are in charge of a team of people for the interior of the ship. Everything from cleaning, laundry, taking drink orders, delivering food, and beyond falls under their job description.

Since Below Deck’s start, Bravo added two spinoffs to the series, Below Deck Mediterranean and Below Deck Sailing Yacht. Each show has the same premise and job titles. However, each person hired as the Chief Stew of that particular season differs from the next.

8 Jenna MacGillivary: Parsifal III (Season 1 – Below Deck Sailing)

Jenna MacGillivray was on season 1 of Below Deck Sailing Yacht. In the season, Jenna spent most of her time trying to win over chef Adam’s affection than on her job. And when Jenna did focus on her crew, she was demanding and petty.

Her behavior towards stewardess Georgia, in particular, was especially critiqued by fans. Jenna laughed about making her cry and would later run to the kitchen to tell Adam about all the drama that was going on. Many viewers felt that Jenna was more focused on Adam than being a good leader for her crew, which is why she’s the least ranked stew.

7 Adrienne Gang: Honor (Season 1 – Below Deck)

The first season of Below Deck had Adrienne Gang as Chief Stew. Like many of the others on this list, she was no-nonsense and serious, but unlike the others, she didn’t take the time to become friendly with the team. As far as decorating and making the guests’ time onboard memorable and special, Adrienne didn’t go above and beyond, like some of the other stews on this list.

Adrienne chose not to come back as Chief Stew in season 2, but she did make a brief appearance as a guest. She joined Ohana with a group of friends where she now got to see how her former staff worked without her. In one scene, Eddie saw her on the beach and literally swam back to the vessel to hide from her.

6 Francesca Rubi: My Seanna (Season 8 – Below Deck)

It’s an unpopular opinion to have liked Francesca Rubi as Chief Stew in the eighth season. She had an ongoing conflict with stewardess Elizabeth Frankini the entire season and it never got better.

As the leader of the ship, many felt that Francesca should have taken the time to teach Elizabeth what she expected instead of yelling at her constantly. To make matters worse, Francesca wasn’t the uplifting leader that the interior needed. She often talked behind the crew’s backs and was not good at managing a group of people. Because of her lazy management style, she was not the best Chief Stew in the franchise.

5 Bugsy Drake: The Wellington (Season 5 – Below Deck Med.)

Christine “Bugsy” Drake was originally introduced as a Second Stew in season 2 of Below Deck Mediterranean. Hannah Ferrier was her Chief Stew in season 2, but the roles changed in season 5. It was because of Bugsy that fans learned just how important the small details were when it came to entertaining guests.

In season 5, Hannah was fired as Chief Stew, and Bugsy was promoted to fill her position. Bugsy could have panicked and ruined the next charter by being disorganized, but she surprised everyone and stole the show. She was fair, organized, and made the guests a priority. Her one downfall was not being very authoritative or open with the crew.

4 Hannah Ferrier: Multiple Vessels (Seasons 1 – 5 – Below Deck Med.)

Hannah Ferrier was the first Chief Stews that fans were introduced to on Below Deck Med. And while she wasn’t always the most positive or personable, Hannah was great at her job and knew exactly what needed to be done in every situation. There wasn’t one request from the guests that Hanna couldn’t handle. However, like many chief stews, Hannah had her flaws.

She had a few boatmances that blew up in flames and caused her anxiety. She also bumped heads with Captain Sandy and didn’t always communicate well when she didn’t get along well with other Stews. But despite her shortcomings, Hannah was dedicated to her job.

3 Kate Chastain: Multiple Vessels (Seasons 1 – 6 – Below Deck)

Kate Chastain was one of the longest-running Chief Stews in the series. Her witty comebacks and dry sense of humor are what made Kate beloved by fans, but was she the best Chief Stew? Kate always maintained her professionalism when around the guests and knew how to handle unruly situations. Instead of accepting subpar work from her Stews, she helped them be better because it made her job easier in return. She was a true manager.

When Kate left the show, she went on to be a part of two other shows that Below Deck fans would like, Galley Talk and Bravo’s Chat Room.

2 Daisy Kelliher: Parsifal III (Season 2 – Below Deck Sailing)

The second season of Below Deck Sailing Yacht had Daisy Kelliher as Chief Stew. Daisy did not have an easy job, especially with all of the boatmances happening on the boat during the season. In fact, it’s how Daisy handled all of the boatmances that made her such a good leader.

She stayed out of the relationship drama and never tried starting a relationship with anyone on the boat. She kept her mind focused on work and was a good leader for Dani and Ali. It’s because she didn’t get involved with the petty drama that she was such a good Chief Stew.

1 Katie Flood: Lady Michelle (Season 6 – Below Deck Med.)

Katie Flood is new to the series and is in her first season on the show, but she is one of the best Chief Stews. She has a ton of experience, has worked on multiple vessels, and has managed multiple Stews. With Hannah leaving in season 5, fans had questions about who was going to run the interior in season 6, but they’ve been pleasantly surprised with Katie. She’s honest and open with the captain and her stews, she also has a great relationship with the chef and those on deck.

Katie’s only flaw is when she questions her own decisions, but when she follows her gut, she’s a great manager. As entertaining and loved as Hannah and Kate were, Katie has a great balance of working hard and being personable with those she works with.

About The Author

Lynn Gibbs
(1645 Articles Published)

Lynn is a nomad who travels the globe on the hunt for her next adventure with her husband. A lover of being outside (and finding the best latte in town), Lynn is typically hiking, walking, or jogging when she’s not focusing on her love of writing. When it comes to shows streaming on Netflix or anything Bravo-related, Lynn’s your gal.

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