LGBTQ+ Cruise Led by Patti LuPone Denied Entry by Egypt After Turkey Rejection
The Virgin Voyages ship Scarlet Lady, featuring Tony winner Patti LuPone, was barred from docking in Egypt following a last-minute denial by Turkish authorities, prompting comments from cruise organizers and passengers.
Egyptian authorities refused clearance for the Virgin Voyages vessel Scarlet Lady, a cruise marketed to LGBTQ+ travelers and featuring Broadway star Patti LuPone, according to a CNN report on Friday. The ship had already been turned away by Turkey, prompting Atlantis Events president and CEO Rich Campbell to say, "We had full approval and they denied us clearance at the 11th hour."
LuPone posted on Instagram on July 2 that the cruise was banned from Turkey and expressed frustration, noting the ship was "full of gay men" and that she remained determined to perform at other ports. After the Turkish denial, the cruise itinerary was altered to include an Egyptian stop, but Egyptian officials did not provide a public reason for the subsequent blockage. A statement from the Turkish government on X criticized the organization behind the cruise for actions it said conflicted with societal values.
Passenger Greg Morley told CNN that the incident highlighted broader challenges faced by LGBTQ+ communities in the region, adding that discrimination extends beyond a single voyage. The cruise, which began sailing on July 5 and is scheduled to conclude in Italy on July 15, was promoted as an all-gay Mediterranean itinerary visiting destinations such as Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Istanbul, Dubrovnik and Venice.