2 min read- Daisy Kelliher of ‘Below Deck’ says ultra-rich yacht guests almost always want greasy comfort food like fries at 2 a.m.
- She shares a wild request involving glacier ice shipped from Alaska for margaritas.
- Off-duty, her own go-to drunk snack is dumplings—simple, easy, and comforting.
If you’ve ever imagined what the ultra-rich are eating in the middle of the night on a luxury yacht, the reality is a lot less extravagant than you’d think.
According to Below Deck star and Chief Stew Daisy Kelliher, late-night cravings don’t really change with wealth. “I think everyone at 2 a.m. wants fries,” she says on the latest episode of SNACKS!. “No matter what’s in the bank account…if you’re asking for food at 2 a.m., you want greasy, carby.”
It’s a surprisingly grounded detail coming from someone who has spent years working in luxury yachting, where most things are anything but. During the day, meals are carefully planned and often over-the-top, with multiple courses and high-end ingredients. By the time night rolls around, though, that energy shifts. After hours of drinking, sun, and activity, guests tend to want something simple, familiar, and satisfying.
Kelliher explained that there’s also a noticeable difference between yacht owners and charter guests. Owners are typically more relaxed and happy with something low-key like soup or a sandwich. Charter guests, on the other hand, are paying for a full experience, which often means expecting every request to be met without hesitation, no matter the time of day.
Of course, not every request is as straightforward as fries.
Kelliher recalls one of the more extreme examples she’s seen: A guest who asked that the glacier ice they came across in Alaska get transported to Los Angeles to use in margaritas. The ice was stored in a yacht freezer for months before being served, turning a single cocktail detail into a long-term operation.
Moments like that highlight just how demanding the job can be behind the scenes. Kelliher described working on Below Deck as the hardest job she’s ever had, especially during the early days of a charter when the crew is still adjusting to a new boat, learning guest preferences, and trying to deliver a high level of service without any missteps.
There’s also no real downtime. Late-night requests are part of the job, and whether it’s a basket of fries or something far more complicated, the expectation is always the same: Make it happen.
Off the yacht, her own late-night habits are a little different. Kelliher says her go-to drunk snack is dumplings, which she keeps on hand because they’re easy to make and hit that same comforting note.
Even with all the excess and luxury that comes with yachting, that detail is telling. Strip everything else away, and cravings are pretty universal.
You can listen to full episodes of SNACKS! on Spotify and Apple or watch them on YouTube. And make sure to follow SNACKS! on Instagram and TikTok for updates on new episodes every week.