All About the Yacht Katina, in Below Deck Down Under Season 3

The Below Deck franchise that has focused on Australia for the past two seasons is making a switch. Actually, it’s making two switches. Below Deck Down Under season 3 features a new destination and a new motoryacht. The Seychelles is the setting for the drama aboard the yacht Katina, which is further the largest one so far for the show.

Season 2 of Below Deck Down Under, which finished airing in 2023, featured the motoryacht Northern Sun (below). The 167-footer (61-meter) took viewers around the Whitsunday Islands of Australia. Australia was also the focus of season 1. Originally, Northern Sun was an ice-classed marine-research vessel in Japan in the late 1970s. Private owners based in Hong Kong acquired her in 2005 and had her converted over several years for yacht service. They kept the ice-strengthened hull, too, specifically intending her to be an explorer yacht. Although the season earned high viewership, fans weren’t thrilled with Northern Sun’s aesthetics.

The producers haven’t revealed why they switched vessels, or locations. Regardless, filming began aboard the yacht Katina in February of last year. The 197-footer (60-meter) has spent significant time in the Med, following her delivery in 2015 from Croatia-based Brodosplit. In fact, chartering in Croatia was the initial motivation behind building her. She relocated to the Indian Ocean for chartering amid the Seychelles and Maldives for winter seasons prior to filming beginning.

Several amenities set the megayacht apart from other large motoryachts for charter. For instance, two VIP suites—among six total staterooms—are on the upper deck. Additionally, each has a fold-down balcony. While the hot tub aboard is elevated, purposely to provide terrific views, the yacht Katina is especially adept at hosting parties. In fact, part of the sundeck—the same level as the hot tub—can host a crowd for a private disco. She even has her own lighting system for dazzling visuals complementing the superb sound. If guests prefer somewhat more sedate experiences, they can enjoy smokes and sips from the cigar and whiskey room.

Further amenities include a gym, a sauna, an elevator connecting all of the decks, and a plethora of watertoys. Overall, the volume of 1,212 gross tons makes for ample areas.

Below Deck Down Under premieres February 3 on Bravo, with Capt. Jason Chambers (below) at the helm again. The show will begin streaming on Peacock the following day. In the meantime, the yacht Katina is back in Croatia. She’s available this summer for up to €320,000 (about $391,000) per week, plus expenses, through the major charter brokerage firms.