
Below Deck is back for Season 8, its first without longtime Chief Stew Kate Chastain.
Earlier today (September 21), Bravo released a first look at the new season featuring an almost all-new crew. Captain Lee Rosbach is back in charge, and Eddie Lucas returns as bosun, while the rest of the crew is filled with newbies.
Below Deck Season 8 cast

Captain Lee Rosbach

Eddie Lucas, Bosun

Francesca Rubi, Chief Stew

Rachel Hargrove, Chef

Elizabeth Frankini, Stew

Isabelle “Izzy” Wouters, Stew

James Hough, Deckhand

Shane Coopersmith, Deckhand
Below Deck Season 8 trailer
You can check out the trailer over at Entertainment Tonight, who snagged the exclusive from Bravo.
The season will be a dramatic one, especially seeing as it will be including the cast’s reaction to the start of the coronavirus pandemic. As it appears in the trailer, Below Deck was busy filming Season 8 when the “f**king world [went] to hell in a f**king hand basket,” in the brilliant words of Captain Lee.
The season premieres this coming November, following the end of Below Deck Med Season 5, which is currently bringing the heat to Monday nights.
Kate Chastain moves on
Kate announced her departure back in January of this year and while Kate Chastain is sure-to-be missed by Below Deck fans, the new season looks fantastic and while change can be hard, it is usually a good thing. Plus, fans of Kate can always check her out on Bravo’s Chat Room, the new talk show they announced earlier this week starring the former Chief Stew.

Below Deck Season 8 will be the first without longtime Chief Stew Kate Chastain.
As previously reported, Kate is set to host the late night talk show with Real Housewives of Potomac‘s Gizelle Bryant, Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Porsha Williams, and Summer House’s Hannah Berner. Kate serves as one of the show’s executive producers along with Porsha and former Bravo executive and current Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen.
In addition to her new hosting gig, she also has been hosting Below Deck Med: Watch With Kate Chastain, a commentary of the episode airing Tuesday of each week following Monday’s new episode.
Below Deck premieres Monday, November 2, at 9/8c on Bravo. You can check out Kate on Bravo’s Chat Room when it premieres Sunday, September 27.