The Untold Tales of a Sailor at Sea

by L.C. Tang

HIDDEN SECRETS OF THE CRUISE INDUSTRY REVEALED IN THIS ESSENTIAL CRUISE COMPANION!

A remarkable story and insights into the cruise industry as never told before which will surely put you on the edge of your seat. This essential cruise companion is for every travel enthusiast and for anyone ever interested in what life is all about working in the cruise industry.
The Untold Tales of a Sailor at Sea invites you to look behind cruise ship doors and join in one woman's adventures during her life at sea. Discover how removing inhibitions and fear of the unknown can lead to a whole world of possibilities and adventures. Finding growth in unexpected social, emotional and spiritual avenues leads one to explore how it is possible to reach new horizons. This ultimate read provides a look behind the scenes while chronicling the shipboard experiences in the underbelly of the lavish cruise industry. With unerring honesty and lively wit, L.C.Tang pens some harrowing life experiences and convictions. Therefore, this is a must read for further hidden truths and surprising revelations of the cruise industry.
What's included in this book:
- whistleblowing and surprising operations of the cruise industry
- in-depth look how crew members survive, work and serve passengers
- unfiltered stories of crewmembers related to crime and discrimination
- over 15 years of experience and glimpses of various cruise ship roles
- revelations of courage, conviction of heart and divine intervention
If one enjoyed the movie TITANIC, then this thrilling book of adventure filled with a plethora of tales intertwined with suspense, drama, romance, and unsuspecting crime will surely satiate one's appetite.

Genres: Adventure

139 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 17, 2020

About the author

Ms. Lincee Tang is a pen name for an artist and author who discovers her artistic passion at a young age and follows her dream to become a professional artist. Lincee steps into the world of the cruise industry to explore new adventures beyond the horizon. Life at sea provides opportunities to unveil hidden talents within and a resilience to venture into the unknown.
* Kindly note that this author is NO LONGER on any social media and only on goodreads. The author does not endorse any individual, company, corporation or entity. The author does NOT solicit, offer employment or services of any kind. Any individual operating under this author's PEN name is impersonating and doing so without the knowledge or consent of L.C.Tang.

Reviews

[L.C. Tang · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve ever dreamed of chasing your goals, overcoming challenges, or embarking on a thrilling adventure, this book is for you. It’s a heart-pounding blend of action, drama, romance, and unexpected crime that will keep you turning the pages. But beyond the excitement, this story also offers a rare look into the world of the cruise industry, showcasing the lives of international crew members who often go unheard.

As a cruise and travel enthusiast myself, I wanted to bring to light the untold stories of those who make these incredible voyages possible. This book isn’t just a story; it’s an eye-opening glimpse into a world many never think about. If you’re ready for a rollercoaster of emotions, unexpected twists, and a deep dive into life at sea, this book will take you on a ride you won’t forget.

Whether you’re in it for the adventure, the romance, or the behind-the-scenes secrets of the cruise industry, this book has something for everyone. Grab a copy and join me on a journey full of thrills, revelations, and unforgettable moments!

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling

As a sailor at sea, I fell in love with the sight of the sunrises and sunsets.

The Untold Tales of a Sailor at Sea follows the author, Lincee Tang, as she escapes her monotonous life on land for exciting adventures at sea.

I fell in love with the smell of the salt air [and] with the sound of the waves.

What I loved about this book is that I was quite engrossed the entire time I read it. I always looked forward to picking it up before going to sleep at night. I don't think many of us have a chance to experience life at sea for ourselves or even talk to a real-life sailor, so I definitely appreciated the new perspective this book gave me. Memoirs and nonfiction in general aren't usually my thing, but I was never bored reading this.

I fell in love with the thought of hope each day brings [and] with the opportunities to learn and explore.

There's also art throughout the book of events that occurred and I thought that was a very nice addition to it all since most books don't have anything like that. (There's around six drawings in the book.) I also personally appreciated the timely quotes at the beginning of each chapter.

I fell in love with the sailor who captured my heart.

However, the writing itself in this book fell a bit short. I felt like it could have used a much better developmental edit... sometimes the story elaborated way too much on things that didn't need to be elaborated on and sometimes very important events were skipped or the narrative would suddenly fast forward in time and leave us with gaps and questions. I understand that there may be some things in the author's life she doesn't want to disclose in a memoir, but if that was indeed the case, it could have been done much more artfully. For example, the author mentions three different men that she had a romantic relationship with, but she never goes to say what happened with any of the relationships; she just keeps going with the book and doesn't bring them up again. Things like that made the book feel super choppy at times. Also, the author would use the same words or phrases or mention something unimportant to the plot over and over again (e.g. the contraband...)

I fell in love with the awesome wonder of seeing miracles and happiness unfold each day for passengers and fellow crew members.

Also, the author is a professing Christian, I believe, so there's some talk of God and Christianity in the story. It's not overwhelming at all, though, for those of you who aren't Christians. Other potential warnings include there being a lot of sexual activity at sea... The author doesn't party or drink or hook up with people, but she does mention sleeping with her boyfriend as well as getting condoms for other sailors.

I fell in love with the awesome wonder of seeing miracles and happiness unfold each day for passengers and fellow crew members.

Overall, this was an interesting read. I would recommend it to those who enjoy memoirs/nonfiction and those who like learning about people, culture, etc.

I fell in love with being a seafarer.

The blood of a sailor now pumps daily in my being.

[And] most of all, I fell in love with the Almighty Creator who put me here to enjoy the splendor of this journey.

— L.C. Tang, The Untold Tales of a Sailor at Sea

Trigger warning: Moderate to detailed description of two r*pe incidents as well as attempted r*pe.

[James Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique Testimony
In The Untold Tales of a Sailor at Sea, L.C. Tang spills the dirt or in this case, the dirty water on those romantic, fun-filled vacations at sea. The book chronicles the author’s time she spent working onboard cruise ships and takes the reader down into the areas where the crew works and lives. While the book is written from a Christian believer’s perspective, it is not preachy, but is instead more of an expose of the cruise industry. Still, the author is at her best when she shares her “testimony.” She is often vulnerable, raw, open, and honest and the book contains graphic depictions of sexual assaults.

While I never served on a cruise ship, I did serve for decades as a chaplain in the U.S. Army. So, I identified with adapting to a completely different culture, while being true to your Christian principles. God opens doors for the author and gives her opportunities to share her faith in a world filled with sex, drugs, alcohol, and illicit activities. I applaud her for her bravery.

The Untold Tales of a Sailor at Sea provides a revealing perspective, which keeps the reader interested throughout and makes you appreciate its behind-the-scenes look at crew life on cruise ships. If you've cruised before, are booked on a cruise, thinking about booking a cruise, or just wondered what it would be like to work on a cruise ship, please read this book. It's an easy read and very entertaining--but sad in a way. Sad because of what happened to the author, but also amazing because of how she overcame by the grace of Jesus Christ.

[David Stott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never judge a book by its cover or at least don’t prejudge.

When I first heard of LC Tang’s book I did a little googling and thought that this book might not be my cup of tea. Most sea-going adventures are written by seadogs of a certain vintage like myself and have had a similar experience of life at sea.

This book comes from a completely different viewpoint.
My heart palpitates with excitement as my hand sweats with nervousness.
I remember the feeling well as I climbed the gangplank 48 years ago. For Lincee almost fifty years later it is a whole new world that she is entering for the first time.

Finding her cabin below the waterline she is shocked by the constant sound of the waves and the coolness of the cabin. Of course, as a mere member of the crew working in the entertainment department, she has to share this rather small and hard-to-find cabin with another female crew member.

Her first days at sea on this mega liner and she is totally lost at times trying to navigate the
1-95 (main working alleyway of the ship) and seeks the help of a Croatian deck officer to help her find her way. This sleaze bag pins her against the bulkhead and physically attacks her, ripping her uniform and abuses her. The ship newbie has heard tales of bodies disappearing over the side and keeps details of this attack to herself, not realising how behaviour like this should be reported. Male crew members greatly outnumber the females on board and little does she realise that from the moment she stepped on the gangway she was regarded as New Meat and would be a target each day for the sex-starved crew members.

Back in the 1970 entertainment hostesses were given officer status but it appears that times have changed and Lincee is classed as “Staff Rank”, all new to me but equivalent to leading hands as l knew them with some passenger privileges. The food quality for crew food seems to have declined over the years and a trip ashore to McDonald’s is a treat to many crew members to escape the monotony of the crew mess.

One thing that has not changed much is the high costs of phone calls from the ship. I only ever called home once a trip for very special occasions, like birthdays or Christmas. Phone cards were available to Lincee to use once the ship is in dock but rather hefty at $10 for thirty minutes. Phone cards at sea were a black market currency and could often be earned by doing someone a favour, one way or the other, use your imagination.

Lincee finds it hard to make new friends on the ship and finds solace in playing the piano in her spare time and by attending the Christian Bible study group and looks forward each week to the Sunday Christian fellowship meeting. It is not long before she is called upon to open the meeting with a prayer, which in turn leads to her holding the service and preaching the sermon.

Doing the Dhobi is another task that proves difficult for female crew members onboard ship. With only four washers and dryers available for crew use, it is a marathon to get the dhobi done. First, you have to queue for a washer and then a dryer. If you disappear while waiting for the machine to finish and you are late in returning your laundry would be ceremoniously dumped from the machine awaiting your return. Much to Lincee’s distress, she returns to the laundry to discover that some of her underwear is missing and she is left with only one set of underwear to last until she arrives in Juneau for a trip to the local Walmart to replenish her missing garments.

Acquiring bottled water could also be a challenge at sea. As it was only available at certain times. Personally, I have never been an advocate of bottled water and have always drunk water straight from the tap where safe to do so, this includes all the ships I have sailed on. I hope the modern ships now have bottle filling points around the ship to cut back on plastic waste.

Lincee’s strong Christian faith help her through many difficult situations during her career at sea. Before her life, at sea, she was often called upon to fill in as emergency pianist in different denominational churches and as such enjoyed all the different styles of services and sermons of the various churches she visited. I particularly like her explanation for the different styles of holy communion. Lining up at the altar rail and taking the blood of Christ from the same chalice, she called this the drive-thru method. As a youth I served at holy communion in the C of E and now realise we used the drive-thru method with me following along in my red cassock with the tray of wafers. According to Lincee, some churches provide little cups filled with wine along with the wafer and all the congregation would partake at the same time - The take-out method.

Before life at sea Lincee was a fitness instructor at a local gym, after every contract at sea she goes back to this life but soon realises that she cannot live the shoreside life and returns to the oceans for another contract. I believe she got a taste for junk food at sea which does not bear well for a fitness instructor.

When I started to read “The Untold Tales of a Sailor at Sea”. I thought Lincee’s experience of her first trip would mean that she was a one-trip pony and this would be her first and last contract, but as I read on I realised that like the rest of us the sea had got into her bones. Even after a terrible experience in Venice where the ship is almost pulled over, holed fore and aft and almost taking to the lifeboats she is not put off and does many more contracts at sea.

At this point in the book, I was beginning to think that some of her book was fiction as this stricken ship was back at sea the following day, it was then that I realised some of the tales were from different contracts and did not necessarily follow on from each other.

Emergencies at sea are always a frightening experience and within this book, there are quite a few that are documented. There is a whole range of coded announcements that indicate to the crew what is happening and what action they should take, while the passengers are left unaware. Lincee tells of a poor sailor that loses an arm when he becomes trapped in a watertight door. Which brought back to me the horrors of a sailor on Pacific Princess when I was at sea that sadly lost his life in such an incident.

On another occasion, Lincee is suspected of being a Drug Mule and has to go through the embarrassing ordeal of giving a pee sample to a customs officer while 200 crew members wait for the result. Have you ever tried peeing to order?

Christmas at sea can be a very special occasion.
A call to the Cruise Director's office just before Christmas and Lincee is asked to perform the interdenominational services on Christmas eve and Christmas day as head office has decided not to send a clergyman on the cruise to carry out the service. It does not take long for her to say yes to this request. Lincee turns to God for help and delivers the services to packed lounges of passengers and officers

Just when you build up your impression of Lincee, she shocks you. On one occasion she is dealing contraband of passenger food for a milkshake (not allowed) or black market noodles for $2 delivered in a laundry or sick bag. Before you know it she is stealing all the free condoms from the medical centre to trade for phone cards and bottles of water and gains the title of Condom Dealer.

¬Committed Christian she is – Ms. Goody Two Shoes she is not.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Untold Tales of a Sailor a Sea is about the story of a young woman who wanted an adventure on the high seas. Turning thirtieth Lincee Tang fell in love with working as part of a cruise ship Entertainment Department. At first, Lincee Tang found life on a cruise ship challenging. However, the longer Lincee continues with the onboard life more she enjoys the adventure. The readers of The Untold Tales of a Sailor at Sea will continue to follow Lincee advantages to learn about the life of a member of a sailing crew.

The Untold Tales of a Sailor at Sea is the debut book by L. C. Tang. At first, I did not think I would enjoy reading this book. However, I was wrong, and I engaged with the story from the first page. I have read books about the life of a male sailor, and it was interesting to read about life from a female perspective. I like L. C. Tang writing style.

The readers of The Untold Tales of a Sailor at Sea will learn about the life of a woman sailor. Also, the readers of The Untold Tales of a Sailor at Sea will learn about places Lincee visited during her travels.

I recommend this book.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the candid and raw story telling of L.C. Tang’s journey through life onboard of a cruise ship. It was an easy read, that takes the reader through a series of tragic events that are revealed almost immediately. The gravity of the first chapter has the reader feeling empathetic towards the author and surprised to learn the inner workings and under reported happenings of life below deck. The selection of adventures that the author shares keeps the reader engaged and eager for more!

[Laura Goor · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fellow crew member I have always said "never a dull moment on a cruise ship!" Having just finished reading Lincee's book I will say, "not a dull moment in this story of life at sea!" Read about Lincee's onboard adventures where she shares the answers to those questions, "what really goes on behind the "crew only" doors in this page turning book!

[Shrikanth Venne · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all thank you Ms. Lincee Tang for giving me opportunity to read the book by sending me the paperback all the way from Canada to India. And also appreciate the small token provided by you.

This book is about Lincee's adventure in the sea as a sailor and a part of cruise's employee. Author has provided with her different adventures she experienced in the Caribbean cruise, medditernean cruise, south pacific cruise and Down under cruise. Issues she faced in her first cruise in Caribbean been molested by a bridge officer and other difficulties she faced. Then other calamities like the sinking of the ship and fire in the ship are the other stories. How the crew members behave in the cruise as they are away from home for a long time. How the crew members are deprived of sex and good food which makes them do things which are not imaginable in the land.

Lincee has unfolded her experiences in this small book how a sailor faces a hardship and how calm and panicked he/she should be when any of the disaster happen. Overall, Its like a short stories of the cruise, what happens in the ship when you are away from land for a long time. Overall I liked the book to read making it simple and understandable. I would say Its a good Goodread... :)

[Isis Ray-sisco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this book a 3.5 out of 5 but rated up on here. I did like most of the book but there were some parts of it that I just did not. There were no trigger warnings before I got the book (it's nice to know that there are possible triggers ahead of time). The author shares some things that make me wonder about actually taking a cruise....like the areas of the ship where there are no cameras and areas that people can get away with murder (literally). I liked how she went on a journey of self discovery and found out some of her gifts. There were other things in the book though that did not match up with Christian values like getting amourous with guys in her room, or recieving and enjoying contraband, and a few other things (though none of us are perfect and we all make mistakes). The writing was easy to follow making this a quick and easy read (it only took so long because I was only reading a chapter before bed at night). I am sure others would enjoy reading this book.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to first thank L.C. Tang for gifting me this book! This review is long overdue, so before ado...

Bravery, adventure, and romance beam from the pages. That said, I would like to remind certain readers that the book does touch on touchy topics (quite literally - P.S. the pun was not exactly intended). Thankfully, L.C. Tang shares glimpses of her healing process to lighten the mood.

The Untold Tales of a Sailor at Sea is written much like a personal diary, something I found quite unique. L.C. Tang stunned me with just how much she can transform mundane life events into full-fledged stories. Two stars were docked for - what I deem - questionable stylistic and writing choices. However, my reservations were limited to that and my thoughts on how lifestyle was portrayed in the book (a conversation for another day).

[the bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
And I know what you are thinking, no 4 stars for me isn’t bad, it’s ok, I do recommend it, it’s just don’t know, but there a few could be spoilers in this review
Well, the officer, what happened, this is a good example of why it’s incredibly dangerous for women to join the sea crew, or the army, the stuff in this book (rape, harassment) like that always happens, but I did like this book, and I think people should give it a try, who aren’t triggered by sexual assault, or harassment, and I think rape? But anyways, the story, yes,
This was a powerful story, emotional, you feel rage, emotion when reading this
Yes the review isn’t probably that good, I’m writing in a rush, there may be a edit in 2023
Thank you L.C for the book!

[Balikoowa Joshua]

I have had the unspeakable joy of finishing to read author L.C. Tang's book, ''The UNTOLD TALES of a SAILOR at SEA''. Author L.C. Tang ably communicates her story's message with the reader in a very simplicitic manner-her choice of words enables the reader to find acquaintance with her entire emotional, spiritual and emotional conflict. No wonder she possess the true character of a great writer; having the capacity to tell her story in away that is understood by her readers.

Author L.C.Tang travels with us on a lovely journey of her life-her passions, dreams, struggles, setbacks, triumphs and victories. Throughout the tapestry of her story, L.C. Tang as a character enshrined in the First Pronoun ''I'' point of view, demonstrates to us her an unwavering faith amidst the most challenging seasons of life on the waters. Thus, her trust in God for His will to be accomplished in her life is weaved from the beginning to the end.

To all of us-her readers-who have only known a living on land and would wish to explore life and adventure on the sea, can therefore comprehend from L.C.Tang's imaginary vision cast on paper, what it means to pursue a dream on the waters with relentless passion. We can all stand in awe, celebrating her life which is filled with supernatural surprises, miracles, signs and wonders. How she emotionally survives the terrifying deluges of a sinking ship and the elicit urge for sexuality by fellow crew members, is the most amazing testimony that should strengthen us on our journey of salvation. It is a must-read for all citizens of heaven presently dwelling in this fragile world-Earth.

[Emmanuel Jeremiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to the author who gave me a free copy for an honest review. This book is breathtaking and an eye-opener to life in the sea. I enjoyed reading every page of this book.

The author has tactfully and interestingly weaved her experience in the sea in this well-crafted book. She unfolds her sad ordeals as well as some exciting moments as a crew member on the ship.
She explained how she fell prey to a sex-starved Croatian Officer who abused her not once but twice. But the sad story had a U-turn when she met and fell in love with Amit--- security personnel. Her friendship with Amit made her bold and fearless. As a result, she was able to stand up for herself when yet another sex- predator wanted to take advantage of her.

The author also shares how she discovered her God-given ministry. What she had always wanted- To serve God, present itself, and she took it. Brother Matthew, from the Philippines, the fellowship coordinator, gave her the privilege to minister the word of God. That marks the beginning of ministry for her. She has details of her messages preached at sea in Appendix 1 and 2.

I enjoyed every chapter of this book. I highly recommend this book; check out this fantastic story of a sailor at sea. You will enjoy it too.

[Manasa HR · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from author for free. I am voluntarily leaving this review.
I loved the book. This book is way different from my regular genres.
This book follows Lincee, A young lady is set on celebrating her 30th birthday in a terrific manner by setting sail & exploring the vastness of ocean on a cruise ship by joining the entertainment department as a crew.
This book is filled with Lincee's journeys and her adventures along with uncovering some dark, deep truths which may rattle the cruise industry. Indeed her journey started in a much unfavorable environment. However, once you gain knowledge and start seeing differently, your journey at sea is mindblowing.
There are some graphics included in between which adds nice touch to the whole experience.
Since this a journey experience, you can easily set sail with the book.
My only suggestion to the author is to include a map of cruise ships so that we can some general idea of where everyone is when you mention decks, kitchen, passenger areas.

Overall, this is a great read and easy-going book.
I feel this book is underhyped and many people should start reading this.

[Joe Cocker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Ms. Tang for sending me your book all the way to the UK from Canada, I know that wasn't cheap! Sorry for the late, honest review but here goes....

I enjoyed the book. It's definitely interesting for anyone who wants to know about crew life at sea and the many dangers and negatives to this industry, especially to women as we find out with the abuse she suffered at the hands of another crew member. I'm sorry this happened to you.

The drawings were cute and gave some nice visuals to go with the story. Nice touch.
I'd say that it was more geared for Christian readers, with the psalms and frequent references but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it if you're an atheist/other religion, but in this day and age someone always gets triggered so you can't win!

Good for Ms. Tang for writing this book, I'm sure it wasn't an easy feat and openly talking about something such as sexual abuse is brave and should be less taboo. It happens at sea, clearly, more than people think.

Wishing Ms. Tang the best for the future and for her book sales :)

[Lance Lumley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book goes behind the scenes of the writer who decides to make a change in life after being on a cruise and choosing a career in the travel industry. The book shows what each crew employee's job is , to the layout of a the ships, to some of the drama that occurs on the trips.
Also throughout the writer shows her faith by taking on the preaching and worship segments on the cruises, while trying to combat harassment and even an assault on the ships.
This is not just for Christians,; there isn't a bunch of Bible talk in the book, but for anyone who wants to see the no-always-so glamorous life on a boat, along with some nice illustrations by Oscar David added on.
For an in depth review, visit my page at: https://lancewrites.wordpress.com/202...

[Hasina Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and compelling novel

The first chapter intrigued me and got me interested in reading the rest of the novel so I purchased the ebook to finish reading it. I liked how the author was descriptive and great at story-telling. It’s a good read and compelling and holds your attention and you want
to know what happens next. There is some humour in this book and some sad things and even anger emotions show up at times for what the author went through or describes what happens on the cruise ships as an employee. I was taken aback a bit at how the book ended as I wasn’t expecting it to end so abruptly since I was laughing at how the author described her last ordeal in her book. I still had more questions…lol. Overall a good and interesting read.

[Rita Chapman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is based on the real-life experiences of the author, who has spent many years working on cruise ships. Her first contract is challenging, to say the least and she learns to put her faith in God, becoming involved in the onboard Christian Fellowship group. Lincee reveals the long hours worked by the crew, the monotonous food they eat, the dangers which exist in the areas where there are no cameras and the law of the sea. She endures sexual harassment, the near-sinking of one of the boats, finds friends in unusual places, makes officer status and falls in love.

[Vidhya Thakkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

• Life's roughest storms prove the strength of our anchor.•
Experience the life of a Sailor at the sea and look behind cruise ship doors with Lincee who loves being in the Sea and works with an entertainment department at Cruise.

While the passengers on the ship enjoy the most, Lincee shares her experiences as a member of the Sailing crew. Her encounters with fellow officers and the life of a crew member.

The untold tales of a sailor at sea is about her journey from being a great member to becoming an officer. Her adventures during her life at sea. How each experience made her stronger and she discovers herself and her talents. From being courageous to stand for the truth to how difficult it was for her to make friends on the ship. I loved the way she narrates her experiences in the most unfiltered descriptive way. One could feel her struggles, pain and every small achievement. This book will make you smile, will make you feel the pain and the emotions. With Lincee the readers too will live and experience the life on the sea.

The way she discovered few secrets at the sea as a crew member, and how she learned the small but important lessons of life there. I loved the way she gave cruise tours and how every experience made her crave more for the sea. What I loved most is how she never gave up on her passion and found time for herself. Her spiritual growth, well my most favourite part of the book. One of my favourite stories is Vladimir’s story, the cookies story. The way she planned events, and did prayers, everything felt real.

With simple language and an intriguing writing style, this book has stories for life. How the life of a crew member is different and difficult, how no one cared about their mental health and the way they are treated. Lincee interestingly shares the untold stories.

It's a bit slow-paced story with too many details but then the twists make it all worth it. The tough situations she faced during her contracts and the way she handled them is something we must all learn.

It's an inspiring, adventurous journey of Lincee and her experiences at the sea which are worth reading. Especially to know about the life of people who makes our journey a comfortable one. It's A light, breezy, inspiring read you can count on.

[Bridget Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

Come aboard for uncharted waters! The Untold Tales of A Sailor at Sea is the personal stories of one woman's life working on a cruise ship. Each chapter sheds a light on the inner workings of what goes on behind the scenes to make a successful voyage for all. The often witty and sometimes terrifying stories of adventure and secrets are a treasure to be discovered.

Each chapter tells a unique story of an experience and begins with a meaningful quote. The cute and cartoonish illustrations add a light hearted whimsy that I looked forward to throughout the novel. Something that I found unique and cool is the sermon notes feature at the end of the book that is a teaching and ministry tool that will enlighten the reader.

As someone who was always curious about what it would be like to work on a cruise ship I was very surprised at some of the stories within the novel. The book made me long for the cruise experience and smell of the salty air. I laughed and cried along with the narrator as she went through the ups and downs. Some of the circumstances she experiences I never even thought about before that you would encounter while doing such a seemingly glamourous job.

I would recommend this book for fans of Rock This Boat. This is an ideal read for a vacation read, particularly on a cruise. The chapters are short and easy to read, perfect for downtime while sailing the seven seas. Ships ahoy!

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wondering what it's like to work on a cruise ship? The Untold Tales of a Sailor at Sea by L.C. Tang is an eye-opening read.

At the beginning of the book, the author explains that many of the adventures in the book are loosely based on real-life experiences. There are illustrations throughout the book too from Oscar David that add to the scenes.

I liked this book for its ability to give me the inside look at the crews on cruise ships. I hadn't realized what their average day looked like and the layouts of the ships.

I have never been on a cruise ship, but if I go one day as a passenger, I will certainly be thinking about this read. I do hope, though, that female crew member are not seen as objects to salivate over by their male counterparts on every boat like it is portrayed in the book.

My heart goes out to anyone who is sexually assaulted. I encourage the author to add a trigger warning so others know exactly what to expect from this book and can then choose whether to read it, knowing all of the information.

If you've ever wondered what it might be like to work on a cruise ship, this book might be right for you. I give The Untold Tales of a Sailor at Sea by L.C. Tang 4 out of 5 stars.

Disclosure: I was gifted a hardcopy of this book from the author in return for an honest review

[Thomas Zman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have taken several cruises in my lifetime. All of them excellent. What L C Tang has introduced us to in this well thought out and inspired book is the seeming diabolic underbelly of the beast. There had to be one. Nothing so perfect and pristine on the surface cannot be made possible without sacrifice from beneath. The servants aboard all those posh floating cities are prime examples of such. I applaud L C for the courage to pen a novel exposing the pitfalls of paradise on the open seas. She should be commended and held in high reverence as to her expose'. Perhaps she will be the flickering light that ignites the flame to bring forth more secure conditions, more humane treatment, more sincerity of rights as human beings--to those who live and work the cruise ship industry as they wallow in darkness. Kudos to her!

[Sid · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank the author for sending me the book, and I should appreciate that the author stuck with the word and though it took more than a month for me to receive the book, I did and I really am thankful to have put so much effort to send the book to me, just for a request from me. Unfortunately, I cannot give rating for the authors commitment on this but I really am grateful for the same.
For the book, a much-awaited book for me, and when I started the book there were more hiccups for me, yet could complete it after a long reading span. So this book sure holds a softer corner for me however I would try my review is not impacted by the this fact.
A story which looks like inspired by Titanic, it runs and reminds us a little of it, however one can easily see the difference while reading the book yet at the back of the read, Titanic always sits. So I would request the readers to please try keep that out while reading. Lincee is our lead character, who loves seas, obviously a sailor on a cruise. She has been on various cruise and had set backs of life on the cruise, the Caribbean Cruise journey; she also happened to face others like a sinking ship, ship on fire, etc.
The story tells us about how people get desperate on such long cruise journeys and how the instincts of desire over ride the human wisdom, the lead role has faced so many of such incidents over time and the incidents which prove that sea and isolated journeys impact the characteristics of people around.
This is more of a reality on book, though the book does not claim to be based on any true story but there is truth in the story. A well drafted and well-presented book. A different story line which tells truth of life and man, in a fiction story. Appreciate the efforts by the author and am happy that I received and read the book.

[Jimal Shepard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to start this review by saying I have never read a book like this before. I have been on two cruises with my wife and although we have wondered what the life of a cruise ship employee must be like, to actually read a first hand account, was shocking, bizarre, and seemingly filled with unexpected dangers. Knowing the author is Christian (as I am) does not mean this is a "Christian" book, rather it is a book written by a professing Christian; there is a difference. Not wanting to spoil it, but this book caught me off guard, with real lived out experiences of a young lady, being in the minority of ship employees, who had to deal with the kinds of challenges and assumptions to her personhood that I would never have imagined. The style of writing is somewhat matter of fact, while at the same time whimsical.

The book defies category; is it a novel? An autobiography? A devotional? Like the content of the book, the structure of the book itself is full of surprises, too. At times I laughed; at other times my mouth was agape, having me wonder if such things really happened in the underbelly of a cruise liner. Then at the end of the book there were Bible devotions to encourage. I think having these encouraging words in the appendices is a fitting way to end, if not the story in the book, the book itself.

All in all, well done, L.C. Well done indeed.

[Terry Lister · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love cruising. I am impressed with the positive awe that the staff give off. I am impressed by their willingness to serve. Who would have thought that it was so awful for the people at the very bottom of the ladder. I will be extra careful to thank these folks on future cruises.

The author has walked the reader through what conditions are like for crew at the various levels as she is contracted at higher levels as the book proceeds. Her first experiences were quite unpleasant, to say the least, but through time she was able to share very positive tales while showing us the dangers that exist. Will knowing about these dangers put me off crusing? Not at all. I assume that the percentages of these bad outcomes are probably less than on trains or planes. In fact, learning how committed the crew are to getting it right makes me more confident.

I hope Ms Tang is still cruising and will write more about her life at sea. For one, I can not wait to hear more about her adventures.
5 stars for a star performance!

[Kyann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting what I got from this book. It's very deep (pun intended) and it held my attention from the very first page. There's heart and the feeling you get when you love where you work and have those coworkers that are like family, yet others are just shady, sketchy no good kinda folks. The secretive nature of some and the loving kindness of others balances pretty perfectly. It was like getting a long peek behind the curtains of certain industries and being blindsided by things you've never expected to come to light. The author absolutely poured pieces of themselves into the pages and I appreciate that! Thanks L.C. Tang, this was actually quite the adventure!

[Jennifer]

For cruisers who have always wondered what happens below the passenger decks, this book should appeal to you! The author caught the lure of the sea when she was 30. Her experiences range from her first stepping onboard as a crew member to her time as an officer in the entertainment department. As an avid cruiser myself, I read with great interest.

[Celia]

DNF

The story is unique but the writing style is not one I embrace.

No rating as I did not finish the book

[Vedika Agrawal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adventure at Sea
This book is about the experiences of a girl, Lincee who joined in Entertainment department and served in several contracts at cruise ships. This is a good book for people expecting to join the ship or want to know about the life at sea as it gives an idea of what to expect at the ship. Lincee was working as a gym instructer on land and wanted to have an adventure at sea to come out of her monotonous life. She explored different places like Alaska, Carribbean, Australia, Newzealand, Mediterranean, South Pacific, Egypt, etc while on sea and the offers at sea were lucrative and adventurous. During her contract on ship in the early weeks, she often got lost finding her cabin – once she got help by a kind officer and once she was attacked by an officer who tried to rape her. It was difficult to do simple things like laundry at sea and she lost some of her clothes also while washing. She cherished the time out of her shift by playing piano at the chapel, attending bible studies on Wednesday nights and church services on Sundays. She was asked to deliver sermons and lead bible studies for the crew, which she enjoyed alot. On one of the contracts, she was also asked to deliver sermons for the passengers also. On the other contrtact, she delivered sermons on Christmas too which she enjoyed alot.
The book shows how different the life is at the sea is – with constant noises, poor air quality, low temperatures, small cabins, watertight doors, limited choice of food, fighting crew members, and sex starved sailors. Lincee was once interrogated for suspicion of being a drug mule and had to undergo a drug test also. She joined one of her contract to Mediterranean as promoted officer and got her own cabin and window. She was disturbed by a phonecall from a Filipino crew late at night against whom she filed a sexual harassment complaint. She made good friends while at ship and enjoyed the time onshore too visiting different places. While in Venice, the wind was very strong, there was terror at the ship when it started to sink. There was panic all around among the crew and passengers. The ship was finally saved when mooring ropes were cut. Once while in Egyptian contract, the engine got fire and there was alarm but luckily, fire was exhausted by the crew.
The book is divided in 12 chapters and each chapter starts with a motivating quote. The book is well written and keeps you engrossed. Illustrations in the middle complements the story well and are nicely done. The book ends with the acknowledgement and the Bible sermons about job and ministry, and about patience. Overall a good book that keeps you involved. I have never been at sea and wants to have a time in ship too after reading this book. Good work by the author. Highly Recommended.

[Jill Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever been on a cruise and wondered how it is run so smoothly, so efficiently, and seemingly with minimal staff in sight? Have you ever wanted to see the world one port at a time? Have you ever thought of escaping land, to feel freedom, and enjoy an adventure? With her thirtieth birthday looming, a milestone by any right, coming on the heels of exiting an abusive relationship, Lincee decides to make a huge jump, living out her dream aboard a luxury cruise ship.

Working in the entertainment department within the cruise ship industry means Lincee often works long hours on her feet. Couple that with being a newbie to the navigation of below deck passages and she quickly finds she is struggling to make her way back to her bunk each night. With men being the dominate sex at sea, this is a scary position for any female to be in.

Despite Lincee’s hardships, finding her way, making friends, and remaining true to herself, she has now spent more than a decade at sea. Both as a passenger and as a crew member, author L.C. Tang reveals the many secrets, and many stories of her time on the water. From port excursions warning crew not to stop at KFC, to the underwater black-market trading and late-night meal deliveries, Tang welcomes readers into her inner folds and lays it all bare.

“The Untold Tales of a Sailor at Sea” was as captivating as the title suggests. Tang enthralls readers with her adventures, her woes, and her endeavors at sea. Cumulating with her friendships, fears, and faith, this book is a truly eye-opening experience. Readers will never look at the cruise industry the same, with crew passageways, i95 corridors, door markings hidden in plain sight, and staff all working behind the scenes to make our cruise dreams come true.