DLifestyle Magazine | Yachting & Luxury Lifestyle
### Below Deck Season 13: Meet AZUL V, the 48-Metre Superyacht Bringing Luxury Back to Thailand
The new season of Bravo’s Below Deck premiered on 12 October 2026, introducing AZUL V as its latest floating stage for luxury, demanding guests and life at sea.
There is something fascinating about a superyacht that serves two very different worlds. To its charter guests, it is a private sanctuary, a floating luxury resort where the coastline becomes a moving backdrop to days spent swimming, dining and exploring. To the crew, however, it is a workplace where every detail matters, every request demands attention and a successful holiday depends on precision behind the scenes.
That contrast is precisely what has made Below Deck such a compelling television franchise. Now, for its thirteenth season, the series introduces a new vessel to its familiar formula: AZUL V.
Premiering on Bravo on 12 October 2026, Season 13 takes viewers to Phuket, Thailand, replacing the yacht ST DAVID, which featured throughout the previous three seasons, with a vessel whose classic Italian interiors and generous outdoor spaces offer a distinctly different atmosphere.
For yacht enthusiasts, the change is more than a television production decision. It is an opportunity to discover a superyacht whose appeal rests on the traditional pleasures of private yachting: space, privacy, water sports and the freedom to experience one of Southeast Asia’s most beautiful cruising regions from the sea.
### AZUL V: Italian yacht-building meets charter luxury
Built in 1996 by the Italian shipyard CRN Yachts, AZUL V measures approximately 48.2 metres (158 feet) and features three decks dedicated to accommodation, entertaining and outdoor living. Her design reflects a period when superyacht luxury was expressed through generous proportions, carefully considered interiors and spaces designed to make life aboard feel effortless.
The yacht underwent a major rebuild in 2015, earning a judges’ commendation in the Rebuilt Yacht category at the 2016 World Superyacht Awards. Rather than relying on the appeal of a brand-new hull, AZUL V demonstrates how a substantial refit can extend a yacht’s life while preserving the character of its original design.
Her interiors were designed by French specialist Zuretti, bringing a classic European sensibility to the onboard living spaces. The result is a yacht that feels different from the minimalist, contemporary interiors increasingly associated with modern luxury vessels.
### Life aboard: where the yacht comes into her own
A yacht of this size must do more than look impressive from the quay. Its decks need to function as living spaces, offering guests a variety of ways to spend their time without feeling confined to a single lounge or dining area.
AZUL V’s sundeck is one of her defining features. A Jacuzzi, bar and relaxation areas turn the upper deck into a natural gathering point, whether guests want to enjoy the sunshine or settle in for an evening drink. The bridge deck also provides an alfresco dining area, allowing meals to become part of the scenery rather than an occasion confined indoors.
That emphasis on outdoor living is particularly well suited to Thailand. When a yacht is cruising through tropical waters, the view is part of the experience, and open decks allow guests to remain connected to the landscape throughout the day.
Inside, the yacht offers air conditioning, Wi-Fi and gym equipment, balancing relaxation with the practical comforts expected from a luxury charter.
### Six cabins, 11 guests and a private crew
AZUL V is listed with six guest cabins and accommodation for up to 11 guests, supported by a crew of up to 11. The layout comprises a master suite, a VIP cabin, a double cabin, two twin cabins and a single cabin.
The full-beam master suite is particularly noteworthy. Its private study and dressing room, alongside separate his-and-hers bathroom facilities, provide a degree of privacy that matters when a yacht becomes a guest’s home for several days.
For families, groups of friends or couples travelling together, the combination of cabin types allows the yacht to accommodate different arrangements without sacrificing the private spaces that make a charter attractive.
And while guests may see the champagne, elaborate meals and beautifully prepared cabins, the crew is responsible for the coordination that makes the experience appear effortless. This is where Below Deck finds its central tension: luxury is the product, but service is the work.
### A toybox built for Thailand
For guests who prefer activity to an afternoon on the sunpads, AZUL V carries an extensive selection of water toys. The reported inventory includes two WaveRunners, waterskis, wakeboards, kayaks, snorkelling equipment, towable inflatables, an inflatable trampoline and Sea-Doo underwater scooters. Two tenders support transfers and excursions, including a seven-metre RIB.
The equipment makes the yacht particularly suited to a destination where the water is as important as the vessel itself. Guests can explore sheltered bays, snorkel, enjoy watersports or head ashore for excursions, with the crew organising activities around the itinerary and conditions.
It is a reminder that the modern superyacht charter is not simply about transporting guests from one port to another. The yacht is a platform for experiencing the destination.
### Phuket: a return to Southeast Asia8
Season 13 also marks a significant change of scenery for the main series. After several seasons exploring Caribbean destinations, Below Deck returns to Southeast Asia, with Phuket serving as the setting for the new charter season.
The crew operates from Ao Po Grand Marina, with destinations including the waters near Koh Rang Noi, Phang Nga Bay and the Phi Phi Islands. These cruising grounds offer a combination of dramatic limestone formations, sheltered anchorages and tropical coastlines that lend themselves naturally to private yacht exploration.
The return to Thailand is particularly notable because the main series last visited the region in Season 7. For returning viewers, the change offers a fresh visual setting; for yacht enthusiasts, it places the spotlight on a charter destination with its own distinctive appeal.
The geography also creates its own demands. Planning excursions, managing guest expectations and keeping operations running smoothly require a crew that can adapt to the conditions and the itinerary. The scenery may look idyllic on screen, but delivering a seamless charter remains a serious logistical undertaking.
### Captain Kerry and a new crew dynamic
Season 13 sees Captain Kerry Titheradge return alongside chief steward Fraser Olender and second steward Rainbeau de Roos.
They are joined by chef Moe Vilomar, bosun Alex Wright, deckhands James Bishop, Matthew Fitzpatrick-Buck and Jessenia Stidger, and stews Kaylee Brown and Rosa Simms-Preston.
The combination of familiar faces and new arrivals is central to the show’s appeal. The returning crew bring experience of the franchise’s demands, while the newcomers must learn how to work within the hierarchy and deliver the level of service expected by charter guests.
Early episodes also underline that the yacht itself is not immune to operational challenges. Coverage of the season premiere reported engine trouble during preparations to welcome guests, placing immediate pressure on Captain Kerry and his team.
It is a useful distinction between the fantasy of chartering a superyacht and the reality of operating one. Beautiful interiors and an impressive toy collection mean little if the crew cannot safely and reliably deliver the voyage.
### What does it cost to charter AZUL V?
For those wondering whether the yacht is available beyond the television screen, AZUL V is offered for charter in Southeast Asia.
AZUL V
CRN Yachts · Built 1996 · Rebuilt 2015
### $155,000 per week
Published base charter rate, plus expenses
Length
### 48.2 m
Guest cabins
### 6
Listed guests
### 11
Crew
### Up to 11
Rate and specifications are based on published yacht-charter listings; availability, seasonal terms and guest capacity should be confirmed with a broker. Expenses such as fuel, provisions and other charter costs are additional.
[View AZUL V’s charter details](https://www.yachtcharterfleet.com/luxury-charter-yacht-22472/azul-v.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
The published rate of $155,000 per week places AZUL V firmly within the high-end charter market. The base price is only part of the financial picture, however, because operating expenses are additional. The final cost depends on the booking terms, itinerary and actual expenditure during the charter.
For prospective guests, the attraction is the opportunity to experience the same yacht featured on television while exploring Thailand with a professional crew. For the yacht itself, the programme offers another form of exposure to an audience already interested in the lifestyle it represents.
### More than a television yacht
AZUL V’s arrival on Below Deck is an introduction to a vessel with a history that predates its latest television appearance by three decades. Built by CRN, substantially rebuilt and recognised in the superyacht awards circuit, she brings a traditional approach to luxury into a modern entertainment format.
Her appeal is not dependent on being the newest yacht in the harbour. It lies in the combination of outdoor living, established charter facilities, classic interiors and a layout suited to exploring tropical waters.
Season 13 adds the human element: the service standards, relationships and inevitable pressures that come with running a luxury charter operation. Yet behind every dramatic moment is the vessel itself, providing the accommodation, facilities and setting that make the experience possible.
For Below Deck, AZUL V is the new stage. For the viewer who looks beyond the drama, she is also the main attraction: a 48-metre Italian-built superyacht taking centre stage in one of Southeast Asia’s most compelling cruising destinations.
### DLifestyle Magazine publishing package
SEO title: Below Deck Season 13: Inside Superyacht AZUL V
SEO slug: `below-deck-season-13-azul-v-yacht`
Meta description: Explore AZUL V, the 48.2-metre CRN superyacht starring in Below Deck Season 13, from her classic Italian interiors to her luxury amenities and Thailand itinerary.
Tags: Below Deck, AZUL V, CRN Yachts, Superyachts, Yacht Charter, Luxury Lifestyle, Phuket, Thailand, Yacht Design
Suggested featured image: A wide exterior profile of AZUL V cruising through the turquoise waters of Phang Nga Bay, with Thailand’s limestone formations in the background.
Sources: YachtCharterFleet — [Season 13 and AZUL V overview](https://www.yachtcharterfleet.com/news/below-deck-season-13-launches-on-bravo-and-introduces-new-yacht-azul-v?utm_source=chatgpt.com); [AZUL V charter specifications](https://www.yachtcharterfleet.com/luxury-charter-yacht-22472/azul-v.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com); Bravo — [Official Below Deck page](https://www.bravotv.com/below-deck/watch?utm_source=chatgpt.com).
