Infinity Cruises
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Pick your travel company with care
Firstly, I have to say I really like Travelzoo who initially advertised the deal I was buying. I have purchased, and enjoyed several of their holiday packages over the years. I expected this trip was to be no different. That was not the case. Last year they advertised an 18 day trip; return flight to India, 7 days in India, 2 days in Dubai then a 7 day cruise around Dubai on MSC. I was led via their link to Infinity Cruises (parent company Infinity Media Promotions). - I was signing up for that 18 day package and would be travelling with everyone else who signed up. Initially going with someone, but then travelling solo, I spoke with Bobby Dalal who assured me that there would be 3 lots of 10 people around my age on the trip, so that even traveling alone, I felt that I would be part of an organized group where I could meet others and share the travel experience. At least I would recognise a few faces on the 6000 berth cruise. After the wonderful 7-day tour of India, the 5 of us, (the other 25 were MIA....) were flown to Dubai where I was kept aside at the airport and found myself alone in a hotel for 2 days On MSC Virtuosa, I was given 10pm dining, and my request to share meal tables was unfulfilled due to the lack of English speakers, so once again I was left alone for the remainder of what was to have been my wonderful birthday holiday. On my return, I contacted Infinity Cruises to share my thoughts on the holiday. They ignored my note for a week, so I called and spoke to Jackie. Surprisingly, the company was not interested. Eventually they said that they would investigate, but it would take 28 days. At 35 days, I contacted ABTA and immediately got a response. They offered me a goodwill payment of £150 but suggested that I thought twice about contacting ABTA and going to arbitration as if I lost I would then have to pay them another £168 – I saw that as a veiled threat. As a matter of principle, I decided to pursue arbitration because I felt this company had misrepresented themselves to me about the holiday. Arbitration changed nothing, they were 'not at fault'. I am certainly not the first person to complain and be ignored. They made it clear once I complained, that after the 7 days I should have known I was on my own – though it was never actually mentioned. Interesting that all they were responsible for was the trip to India and not actually the cruise. I paid for an 18 day tour in a group. They were concerned about the first 7 days but then just brokered the rest of the holiday. Even my cruise tickets were not provided by them, My ex had to log in for the cruise so I could get my tickets. Travelzoo has partnered with Infinity Cruises. In my opinion, this is not a good company to deal with. I paid nearly £4000 to them upfront for the whole 18 days. Only five of the supposed thirty bought the holiday. Had I been told the truth, (that Infinity Cruises were not selling an 18 day vacation package to India and Dubai, that there was no group, that they were instead acting as consolidators, selling bits and pieces of travel and cruises,) I could have booked a birthday trip where I didn't spend 11 of the 18 days on my own. I appreciate that this may not concern couples, but there are lots of people who travel alone now. There are some great companies out there – please read the reviews and pick one who cares about you, an ethical company wanting you to have value for your hard earned money. Don't let this company ruin your holiday of a lifetime .