Geoffscouse

My wife & I and another couple were in Celebrity Silhouette in July and getting through immigration to join TJ Tours was only about ten minutes for our 8.30 am meeting (we were through by 8.15 am).

Showed our passports (Australian) and our tickets, which were A4 size and it was a breeze. Returning to the ship after the first day we showed passports (another stamp) to 'leave' SPB and boarded the ship. The following day once again passports and ticket and we entered Russia at about 7.15 am for our meeting at 7.30 am. Couldn't have been simpler.

TJ Tours will wait for anyone stuck in the immigration queue, so that's not a worry. Overall I was very pleased with the service from TJ Tours and would recommend them to anyone wishing to save money and not use the cruise ship's tours - we had the two day tour and considered it excellent value, plus it included lunch on the first day. We didn't have to pay anything until day 2 - so if anything goes wrong and your ships fails to make port for any reason you are not out of pocket.

Try Shire Shuttle who also offer tours as well as airport & cruise shuttles - try a wine tours - http://www.shireshuttlebus.com.au/tours, they'll create one for you if you wish. I've used them several times and found them to be reliable.

I referred two friends from NZ and five from Australia (different ships). Had to argue the point for the $100 AUD (not USD, which is on the web site) because they cancelled the system in May (or there about) and didn't tell anyone!

I caused a few 'ripples' and was paid the bonus for he NZ friends, but am still 'fighting' for the bonus for the five friends on a later cruise - all were posted and acknowledged by Princess before the changes.

My wife & I are the Diamond to Japan in March, (SYD / TYO), which was booked before our little upset. What they have managed to do is 'to spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar' because I have booked our next cruise to the Baltic with Celebrity (14 nights), so they have lost a lot more than a $100 !

All to do with principle . . . . and how many others will read our comments?