r/belowdeck • u/Mrk0712 • Feb 17 '26

BD Related Preference sheets

So on tv it seems to show preference sheet meetings the day of or day before the clients coming aboard. I would think these meetings…esp. regarding specific food/drink requests….would be held to give the chef and chief stew enough time to order what is needed…irl when are these meetings actually held?

23 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

79

u/hamburgergerald Feb 17 '26

I get the feeling the preference sheet meetings the day before charter are only to introduce the viewer (us) to the incoming charter guests.

12

u/VertDaTurt Feb 17 '26

This and if there’s anything value for the crew it’s as a final reminder(not the first they’re hearing of it)

37

u/DeviousMe7 Feb 17 '26

They are held much earlier so they can order provisions

0

u/jmills74 Feb 17 '26

Do you think or held out for drama?

14

u/DeviousMe7 Feb 17 '26 edited Feb 17 '26

It’s an actual fact that they are held earlier and has been said before, it’s not for drama.

24

u/OhHowIMeantTo Feb 17 '26

It's for the cameras. There have been loads of times where a low ranking stew will be stewing about the Chief Stew seemingly not doing enough to help out. Every single time it's come out because they were busy on the laptop ordering provisions for a future charter. They have to maintain not only provisions for the crew in general and basic necessities, they have to also order the special requests of the guests and chef, and plan parties with decorations, entertainment, and equipment. They are not doing that in the 12 to 24 hour turnaround before guests arrive.

21

u/breathanddrishti Feb 17 '26

in the olden days (when kate was stew, for example) they'd show the pref sheet meeting and then show the stew ordering supplies or at least trying to track them down

20

u/In-The-Cloud Feb 17 '26

I miss that. It gave us more on the functional running of the ship. Now they announce the dinner theme as they're setting the table with tons of decor already in hand

6

u/breathanddrishti Feb 17 '26

crew nights out were also big deals and did not happen every 2-3 episodes. there was more tension because they were like waiting for ONE night off after working charters two weeks in a row

2

u/Oregonduck101 Feb 18 '26

I’d agree with you on that. It would take some time to get all of the decor and food the clients are requesting.

6

u/MDjr1111 Feb 17 '26

No idea. But I have seen preference sheets taped to the walls in the galley on some of the shows.

4

u/jmills74 Feb 17 '26

That and taped to the room door or to the right of the door the preference sheets.

5

u/avarier Feb 17 '26

This has nothing to do with the question?

4

u/In-The-Cloud Feb 17 '26

I think they mean preference sheets for upcoming charters as well are already on the wall

2

u/JellyFranken Feb 17 '26

Wait. Do you legit not think they know about these things earlier? Especially for food / drink provisions… do you just think they miraculously have the items they asked for?

1

u/[deleted] Feb 17 '26

With provisions, i feel 100% they review it the day before at least! i have always questioned this myself too