LGBTQ cruise Scarlet Lady barred from Turkey and Egypt

A luxury cruise ship chartered for thousands of LGBTQ travelers has been denied entry to two countries in a single week, marking an unprecedented event for the tour operator. The Virgin Voyages ship Scarlet Lady, chartered by Atlantis Events, was first blocked from docking in Turkey and subsequently turned away from Egypt, forcing a major rerouting of its 10-day Mediterranean voyage.

The ship, carrying approximately 1,900 passengers, mostly gay men from the United States, set sail from Athens on July 5. Its scheduled stops in the Turkish ports of Kuşadası and Istanbul were canceled last week after authorities in Turkey’s Aydın Province stated the cruise was organized by groups known for behaviors that do not align with the structure of our society and our moral values. The authorities added the visit had sparked significant public concern and there was no possibility of allowing it.

In response, organizers rerouted the ship to Alexandria, Egypt, for a planned stop on Thursday, July 9, to allow passengers day trips to Cairo. However, early that morning, passengers were notified via the ship’s app and printed notes under their cabin doors that the Scarlet Lady had been denied...