A cruise ship carrying more than 1,900 LGBTQ+ passengers was denied permission to dock at two Turkish ports, sparking international debate over discrimination and tourism policies.
The ship, Scarlet Lady, operated by Virgin Voyages and chartered by the LGBTQ+ travel company Atlantis Events, was scheduled to visit the Turkish ports of Kuşadası and Istanbul during a 10-day Mediterranean cruise from Athens to Venice.
However, local authorities in Turkey canceled the planned stops, stating that the group was “incompatible with the structure of our society and our moral values.”
According to Atlantis Events CEO Rich Campbell, this is the first time in the company’s 36-year history that one of its cruises has been denied entry because of the identity of its passengers.
Campbell described the decision as “stunning” and stressed that the trip was intended purely for tourism, with guests planning to visit historical sites, museums and local attractions.
The cruise carried approximately 1,900 passengers, most of them from the United States, as well as travelers from the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
Broadway star Patti LuPone, who was scheduled to perform onboard, publicly criticized the decision, saying she was “furious” that the ship had been barred simply because of who its passengers were.
Following Turkey’s refusal, the itinerary was changed, replacing the Turkish ports with alternative destinations.
Just days later, Egyptian authorities also denied the ship entry to Alexandria, forcing organizers to make further last-minute changes to the voyage.
The incident has drawn attention to Turkey’s increasingly conservative stance toward LGBTQ+ issues.
Although homosexuality is legal in Turkey, Pride marches have been banned in Istanbul for years, and government officials have frequently used rhetoric emphasizing “family values” and traditional morality.
The case has also raised broader questions about whether countries should be allowed to refuse entry to tourists based solely on the identity of a travel group rather than on security or legal concerns.
Sources:
- CNN Travel / CNN World – Turkey blocks American LGBTQ+ cruise from docking, citing “moral standards” edition.cnn.com
- The Guardian – Turkey blocks cruise ship carrying 2,000 LGBTQ+ passengers, citing “moral values” theguardian.com
- The Guardian – LGBTQ+ cruise ship refused entry to Egypt days after Turkey turned it away theguardian.com
