Yacht Northern Sun Appears in Below Deck Down Under Season 2

The Below Deck franchise is one of the longest-lasting and most successful reality TV series in modern times. The success of the first season of Below Deck Down Under last year has led to season two premiering this summer. It brings back two crewmembers from season one, too, but features a different superyacht. The yacht Northern Sun shows off her decks and Cairns, Australia to viewers in episodes that the captain sums up as “dramatic, wet, emotional.”

the yacht Northern Star — PHOTO: courtesy Bravo

Capt. Jason Chambers will be familiar to viewers, having commanded the yacht Kerri Lee III in season 1. Further returning is the chief stew, Aesha Scott. According to Bravo, “each charter includes nonstop adventure and breathtaking underwater sight-sea-ing, but unruly guests break Jason’s rules, putting their holiday in jeopardy.” The network further teases the new season in saying “a shocking franchise crossover” occurs, along with the usual drama among the crewmembers.

the yacht Northern Sun — PHOTO: courtesy Northern Sun

The biggest star of the show, of course, is the yacht herself. Northern Sun has an intriguing history, not the least of which is because she didn’t launch as a yacht. In fact, in 1976 the 167-footer (61-meter) slid down the ways of a Japanese shipyard as an ice-classed marine-research vessel. Private owners acquired her in 2005 and embarked on a multi-year refit, at two yards in the Philippines. They kept the ice-strengthened hull, intending her to be an explorer yacht. (Her 10,000-mile range is just one example.) Inside, however, major changes took place. The yacht Northern Sun has a games table and piano in her saloon, for instance. One deck down, the formal dining room and a library are adjacent to each other. Throughout the decks, Asian-influenced décor touches mix with the owners’ impressive collection of nautical paintings and ship models.

Asian influences aboard the yacht Northern Star — PHOTO: courtesy Northern Sun

More changes took place out on deck, too. The foredeck is now an ideal area to enjoy cocktails at sunset. Sunpads and a hot tub await on the sundeck, while the main aft is for alfresco dining.

the foredeck of the yacht Northern Sun — PHOTO: courtesy Northern Sun

Charter yachts are frequently watertoy-oriented, and Northern Sun doesn’t disappoint. She has abundant choices for active guests. Go wakeboarding or waterskiing, for example, or slow down a little to enjoy paddleboarding and Laser dinghy sailing. Scuba and snorkeling gear is available, too, as are SeaBobs and towables. There’s even an inflatable water slide, which leads guests shrieking in delight into the water from two decks high.

nautical art is aboard the yacht Northern Sun — PHOTO: courtesy Northern Sun

Season two, episode one airs on July 17. Starting the following Monday, two new episodes air back to back each week. All episodes further are available on Peacock the day after they first air.

If you’re interested in booking the yacht Northern Sun for your own vacation, contact your preferred charter broker. Rates start at $161,700 for Thailand, the Philippines, and other Indian Ocean destinations.