Jill Zarin Shares How Below Deck's Fraser Olender Turned Her Season 11 Adventure into Chaos

Jill Zarin Blames Below Deck's Fraser Olender for Making Her Season 11 Trip a 'Total Disaster'

Jill Zarin and Fraser Olender. Roy Rochlin/Getty Images; Trae Patton/Bravo

The cast of Below Deck judged Jill Zarin, and now she is ready to do the same in return.

On the "Juicy Scoop" podcast episode on Tuesday, April 9, Jill, 60, shared, "I approached it with the mindset of wanting to create a great show. I was completely myself. I acted just like I do in my everyday life."

Jill watched her scenes from season 11 and didn't seem to have any regrets. She mentioned, "If I enjoy my Diet Coke, I'll have another. If I don't like it, I'll send it back. If my food doesn't taste good, I'll send it back. That's what most people do."

As a former Real Housewives of New York City star, Jill felt that being on St. David, a megayacht, meant she should receive a higher level of service.

The cost for the two-night experience was $45,000. Upon boarding the boat at noon, guests are treated to a delicious lunch. Chief steward Fraser Olender provides a detailed explanation of the itinerary for the next two days, which Jill recorded on her phone to share later.

Jill appeared on Below Deck recently as a guest during a two-day charter. However, her high demands ended up overwhelming the crew.

Jill Zarin Blames Below Deck's Fraser Olender for Making Her Season 11 Trip a 'Total Disaster'

Fraser Olender on ‘Below Deck.’ Fred Jagueneau/Bravo

Barbie Pascual, one of the stews, expressed her feelings about Jill, the primary guest, in a confessional. She found Jill overwhelming and described her as annoying for being a demanding freeloading guest. Barbie felt that the situation was too much for her and requested another stew specifically for Jill.

During the charter, Jill frequently brought up issues, such as food service, directly to Fraser, the chief stew. She even made a suggestion for the yacht to have a button for the primary guest, similar to a doorbell she had on her previous yacht that would alert the kitchen.

Fraser felt overwhelmed by Jill's demands, saying they felt like she was invading his thoughts and draining his energy. In response, Jill blamed Fraser for her and her friends not enjoying their time on the yacht.

Jill pointed out that Fraser had promised plenty of snacks and food throughout the trip, but failed to deliver on that promise. She believed it was the head stew's responsibility to ensure everything ran smoothly, and she held him accountable for the disastrous trip.

Jill felt sorry for her fellow guests, saying, “They spent a lot of money. I wanted them to have a great time. ... I agreed to be on the show because my friends wanted to be on TV — I don't blame them. I was okay doing it with them because as long as I stay true to myself, I'm happy.”

Fraser had hinted at the challenging charter before Jill appeared on Below Deck. “She's nice. She's very kind and funny — but she can be demanding,” Fraser shared exclusively with We in February. “But all guests can be demanding. They're charter guests and they have their preferences, which can sometimes be frustrating.”

Fraser also shared a story about Jill's unusual request. According to him, she was very particular about the ice she used and only liked a specific type from a specific freezer. They had to make sure a special ice box was always available wherever she went. Fraser found it amusing and not a big deal.

The new season of Below Deck, season 11, is currently airing on Bravo on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET. If you miss an episode, you can catch up by streaming new episodes the next day on Peacock.

Editor's P/S:

Jill Zarin's appearance on Below Deck was met with mixed reactions. While some viewers appreciated her forthrightness, others found her demands excessive and overwhelming for the crew. The episode highlighted the challenges of meeting the needs of high-maintenance guests in a luxury setting. Zarin's experience underscores the importance of setting clear expectations and boundaries between guests and service providers to ensure a positive and enjoyable experience for all involved.

Fraser Olender, the chief stew who bore the brunt of Zarin's demands, handled the situation with patience and professionalism. He acknowledged her concerns but also communicated his own limitations and the challenges of meeting her specific requests. The incident underscores the importance of effective communication and the need for guests to be respectful of the limitations of the crew.