Below Deck Sailing Yacht is back for Season 5 with a new setting, new yachties and (mostly) all-new drama. Chief Stew Daisy Kelliher returns to manage the interior of the Parsifal III while Captain Glenn Shephard is at the helm. After last season’s messy love triangle between Kelliher, Colin MacRae and Gary King, Kelliher wanted to head into Season 5 with a clean slate but was thwarted by the Season 4 reunion which was filmed shortly before the start of the new charter season. “The reunion was hard on all of us,” Kelliher remembered. “I was upset with the way I was treated.”
With an emotional heart-to-heart with King in the premiere episode of Season 5, Kelliher attempted to put the past behind her. Kelliher mused: “It’s really hard to remember that time and how I felt because I don’t feel anything toward the situation now.” With a new Chief Engineer—Davide Morosi— and a new Chef—Cloyce Martin—in tow, Kelliher has a new interior crew to whip into shape. Stews Danni Warren and Diana Cruz do not have a lot of experience given their young ages, but Kelliher insists that a good “attitude” is what matters most to her. “A lot of the work is common sense,” said Kelliher. However, Kelliher teased stormy seas ahead for her and Warren: “It was a very challenging dynamic.”
Kelliher and the crew of Parsifal III were happy to host some famous faces this season including Dr. Contessa Metcalfe of Married To Medicine and Dr. Tiffany Moon of Real Housewives Of Dallas fame. “It’s always nice to see a member of the Bravo family,” said Kelliher. “We loved having them on board.” Another notable guest is RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Detox who brought a rowdy bunch of guests along. “They definitely were one of the highlights of the season,” remembered Kelliher. “They did manage to get half the crew almost fired though.” We can’t wait to watch what unfolds!
DECIDER spoke to Kelliher over Zoom to talk about the new season, an activated Captain Glenn, and whether or not she’ll have a love connection on board.
DECIDER: We’re in Ibiza this season! Were you happy for the scenery change?
DAISY KELLIHER: Every year, I’m always excited to find out where we’re going to go. This season was the first full year out of COVID restrictions, so production wanted to make sure we had a good time [laughs]. I’ve never gone dancing in a club before on the show because of COVID protocol. It was a first for me!
You don’t start of the season in the greatest mental space. How did you manage to pull yourself of that funk?
To be honest, it was really hard. I was actually fine for a long time and had put all the mess behind me. However, we filmed the Season 4 reunion shortly before we started filming. The reunion was hard on all of us. I was upset with the way I was treated. That really explains why Gary and I came in so hot. It looks like I’ve been really angry for a year, and I wasn’t [laughs]. I swear! It’s hard to put myself back in that place now.
It’s hard for me to watch the show back at this point. I’m like, “damn, I’m angry!” That anger was there for a while, and it was quite raw. I had to deal with that and get through it so I could get through the season. Parsifal is a good place to be because you’re busy and it’s fun. I just wish I had been in a better mindset and better mental health space.
The scene with you and Gary on the fly deck was one of the more genuinely emotional scenes of the series. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen you so hurt before. Did your words to Gary about feeling isolated make an impact?
I’d like to think my words had an impact on him [laughs]. After the reunion, I was pretty much on my own. No friends, no family. I felt physically and mentally alone. I had reached out to Gary several times, and he just ignored me. That had a very negative impact on me. I was using words like “lonely” because of the isolation I’d been feeling.
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In his confessional, he says “I feel sick in my stomach knowing that I intentionally did this to her.” Would it have been helpful if he said that to you? Instead of to the camera?
I don’t think anything he said would have helped. It was a little too late. It was only because we were about to start on a six week charter season that I gave him the time of day. We had to find common ground. I’m also not one to hold on to grudges. In time, I would have been able to forgive, but it was all happening very quickly. The first charter was the next day. It’s so in the past now. Honestly, it’s really hard to even remember that time and remember how I felt because I don’t feel anything toward the situation now.
Shifting gears, we have a new Chief Engineer this season! How did Davide factor into the already well-oiled dynamic between you, Glenn, and Gary?
He was great. Davide’s a really nice guy. It’s always a little nerve-racking when someone new comes into a successful dynamic, but real yachties fit in anywhere. Unlike the rest of the crew, Davide is very well established in the industry. He and Gary had known each other for years. We have a lot of friends in common. He knew the boat. He’s a great engineer. He’s funny. He’s a party boy [laughs]. I thought he was a great addition to the team.
I have never seen Captain Glenn more activated than he was in the preview for this season. Were you surprised to see that side of him?
Gosh, was I surprised? There is one incident that happens midway through the season that I was surprised by because his anger should not have been directed at the whole crew. But that’s just my opinion. He gets activated again—to go with your word—towards the end of the season. He was pissed, and it was much less of a surprise then [laughs].
Cloyce might be the youngest chef/the youngest yachtie in Below Deck franchise history! Is age nothing but a number or do you think he could use some seasoning?
I think he made a great attempt. Experience comes with age. I’m certainly not the same Chief Stew now that I was when I took my first Chief Stew role at 27. For a 22-year-old, he did a great job and hung in there by the skin of his teeth. But he hung in there!
The accidental a la carte ordering got out of hand quickly. Who is more to blame for the dinner disaster: you for taking orders or Cloyce for not expediting everything?
You know what? I’m going to take the fault here, but there are two parts to it. I definitely messed up the order. When you go on a super yacht, it’s like going to someone’s house. You do not turn up at someone’s house and say, “I want this, I want this.” It’s not how it works. Beforehand you say, “Hey, I’m a vegetarian or vegan.” Then it’s up to the host to cook. It works the exact same way on a super yacht. It’s not a restaurant.
The first part for sure is my fault. The second part though… it was his fault. That’s on him to count his dinners. I had my own stuff going on. However, I’ll take the blame as a whole. It was the first day of his first charter. He was obviously very flustered and stressed, and that was my doing. So, I’m going to give him this one, but just this one.
Even though they are young, Danni and Diana both seem like proficient enough stews. Were you happy with their previous training?
Their previous training was not that important to me. A lot of the work is common sense. I’ve said that from the beginning. Attitude is what I care about. Did they have the right attitude? You can watch and judge for yourself. I certainly know my opinion . What they lacked an attitude, they made up for with common sense. They have great potential.
Right now, it’s all fine between you and your stew Danni, but there are stormy seas ahead. You have had combative stews before, but this feels different somehow. What can you tease about the dynamic ahead?
Yeah, so it’s definitely a stormy sea [laughs]. It was a very challenging dynamic. I am very much a girl’s girl. I typically have very good relationships with other women and with my stews especially. This was a first for me.
It was very interesting. Every year, I come back thinking, “okay, I’ve got this. I learned so much from the off-season. I can handle anything.” And every year, I’m surprised [laughs]. The challenge of being a manager is that there’s no textbook. Nothing is straightforward. There are different personalities and unexpected scenarios. The dynamic between Danni andme was one that I had never encountered before. It was challenging, and it wasn’t very enjoyable. I’m sure will be great TV.
I’m so happy Emma is on the deck crew this season. I thought, “finally, someone Daisy can talk to.” Are you glad she was your roommate? You took the top bunk for her!
Yeah, definitely. I love Emma. We definitely vibed. She’s a bit older. She’s next door to me. I’m Irish, she’s English. We have very similar senses of humor. Emma was great addition. Thank God she was my cabin mate because I’m not sure how it would have all gone down otherwise.
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I know you said you didn’t want to go near anyone with a “D,” but in the trailer we see you cuddling up with Cloyce and Keith proposing marriage. Were these boys just too charming to resist?
[Laughs] Look, it’s a long season. What can I say? If one keeps pursuing me… [laughs]. You’re just going to have to wait and see!
This season, we have some Bravo alums on board! Dr. Contessa from Married to Medicine is on the first charter. I saw a flash of Dr. Tiffany Moon from RHOD in the trailer. Were you familiar with them at all?
It’s always nice to see a member of the Bravo family. Dr. Contessa and Tiffany were some of the nicest guests we had this season. I was super excited to see them, and it’s even better when they’re sweet. We loved having them on board.
We also see RuPaul’s Drag Race star Detox and friends charter the yacht this season! What can you tease about their trip?
They definitely were one of the highlights of the season. They brought such big energy when we needed it. It was such a great way to end the season. They did manage to get half the crew almost fired though, which they are incredibly proud of [laughs]. They weren’t just fun; they were spicy. They got the memo. They came in and they were like, “we’ll be your friend, but you got to work for us.”
Is there anything else you’d like to tease about this season?
It’s the same stuff you’ve come to expect [laughs]. There is fighting; there are hookups; there is boat drama. This season has definitely got it all. It’s a roller coaster.
Below Deck Sailing Yacht airs Mondays at 9/8c on Bravo.
