Thread: Please Give My Blog a look Cara Bertoia

Hi, My name is Cara Bertoia and you might say that I love cruises, but after you read the press release for the book I wrote with my husband you will know how much.

Cruise Quarters – A Novel About Casinos and Cruise Ships
Released by Amazon – Paperback and Kindle versions available

Cruise Quarters - A Novel About Casinos And Cruise Ships is a fun, fast paced tale of working in the casino aboard a Regal Cruises cruise-ship. Written by casino professionals, their knowledge offers readers a rare inside look at cruise ship and casino operations.
Palm Springs, CA
Summary of Cruise Quarters – A Novel About Casinos And Cruise Ships
The crew of the Regal Star resemble a mini United Nations, hiring people from all over the world. But unlike the UN, Regal Cruise's employees present a united front above decks as they attend to their passenger's every need. Below decks though, it is a different story.
Sarah Seldon is a croupier on the luxury liner. After many unhappy endings, and burned out on shipboard romance, she is determined to forget about men and concentrate on becoming a casino manager. On land women face a dearth of GOOD men but on a ship giving up men would take willpower. The mostly male crew exists to serve her every need. The waiters bring her food, the Filipino steward cleans her room, the Italian chefs cook for her and the Welsh plumber fixes her sink. She leads a cushy life, sleeping 'til noon, eating gourmet food, and the topper - she gets to wake up in beautiful new place everyday. All because she works in a casino, a place so bad it has SIN in the middle.
After college she took a summer job at Lake Tahoe in the casino business and became a member of the Church of Gambligng. She has been in the gambling business long enough to know that in order for a gambler to be successful, they must have Lady Luck on their side. But a gambler also has to follow the rules of basic strategy. When love unexpectedly sneaks up on Sarah on the magical island of Mayreau, she wonders whether she could apply the rules of gambling to love. What if she could write Sarah Seldon's Basic Strategy of Love?
Book a cruise and travel with Sarah and the crew as they work, play, feast, and fall in and out of love, all while the ship sails around the globe, stopping at exotic ports of call. Along the way, sight-see in Venice, shop in St. Martin, and take an eco-cruise up the Amazon. Let the crew tell you their own stories as they sit in the hallway in the wee hours of the morning. While the ship travels to new destinations, tired and tipsy they share tales of love and betrayal.


Authors Ray and Cara Bertoia remind me that true romance is out there. Ray and Cara Bertoia, are a couple that now live in Palm Springs, Ca. Cara was born in Charleston, South Carolina and Ray hails from Glasgow, Scotland. You have to hail when you come from Scotland. They have been professional croupiers for years. On a summer break from her teaching job Cara took a summer job in Lake Tahoe and didn't leave for many years. Raymond was studying at laceType>CitylaceType> laceType>UniversitylaceType> in London when he saw an advert 'Train up To Be a Croupier, see the world'. He took that advice and worked as an inspector in casinos all over Europe, from Moscow to Greece. The couple met while working on a cruise ship in the Caribbean. Raymond jumped ship to be with Cara and they married after a whirlwind romance. Their knowledge offers their readers a rare insider’s look at casino operations.

The couple also walked 500 miles across Spain, Their movie of the trip, Camino De Santiago - A Walker's Guide, is a popular guide to the Camino. You can find them at www.caminovideo.com or on Amazon.

Please feel free to comment

The link to the novel is:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004NIFUUU

I know that may of you who like to take cruises also like to gamble onboard. Since my husband and I have worked in casinos onboard and onland, for over two decades we decided to pass on a little of our knowledge. Please check out, tablegamesconfessions.blogspot.com

If you have any good gambling stories feel free to share them with us. What is your favorite casino in the world?

Here is a link to my blog where I write about whatever moves me.
carabertoia.blogspot.com

Feel free to comment.
I worked on cruise ships for many years and loved it. Our novel is now available in paperback.
Amazon.com: Cruise Quarters - A Novel About Casinos and Cruise Ships eBook: Cara Bertoia: Kindle Store

Thank you for sharing, Care

Hi, my name is Cara Bertoia and I worked for many years as a croupier for a major cruise liner. Learning to deal is a good way to get a job on a cruise ship. Most cruise ships have very nice casinos. It was a wonderful time in my life.
I have written a book about my experiences and created a slide show that you can view on YouTube. Here is the link and below that is the link to my book.
Just follow your dreams, it is definitely worth it!

YOUTUBE VIDEO LINK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfik0JTvpk8


CRUISE QUARTERS AMAZON LINK
http://www.amazon.com/Cruise-Quarters-Novel-Casinos-ebook/dp/B004NIFUUU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1307057238&sr=1-1

I looked at the video and could not identify the ship then I read your review. The regal Star? I thought Regal only had one ship, the Empress (?) and they went out of business about 10 years ago.

Regardless, I bet you have had some experiences.

I created a ficitional Cruise Line, or I thought I had. The names are changed to prutect us.
Cara B

That is the problem about posting on a board of cruisers who are a bit fanatical at times. We don't mind doing a bit of digging and finding out the real stories......

So without giving anything away, do you still cruise and if so, which lines are your favorites?

I have cruised on NCL, Carnival, and Princess. I really like Princess the best. The food the atmosphere, and the accomodations are better. Without giving anything away.
Cara B

I have gone the opposite route HAL, Celebrity, and I am working on Cunard.

Of the ones you listed, I would give Princess the heads up.

What do you do on Cunard?
Cara B
Just an update our novel is "Read of the Week" at Tripatini. July 11-18