Gay cruise denied docking in Turkey and Egypt, redirects to Greece
A Mediterranean cruise for gay travelers was refused entry by authorities in Turkey and Egypt, prompting the vessel to continue to its scheduled stop in Crete, Greece.
A cruise ship chartered by Atlantis Events, a company that organizes LGBTQ-focused vacations, was barred from docking in two Muslim-majority countries during a Mediterranean itinerary last week. The vessel, the Scarlet Lady, was scheduled to call at the Turkish resort town of Kusadasi on July 7, but Turkish officials said the ship could not be allowed to enter, citing “moral values.”
The cruise’s president, Rich Campbell, said the ship was then cleared to dock in Alexandria, Egypt, on July 9, but Egyptian authorities denied entry four hours before arrival. No official explanation was provided by Egypt.
Local officials in Turkey’s Aydin province said the cruise was “planned by groups known for behaviors that do not align with the structure of our society” and said it caused “great discomfort” to Turkish citizens.
After spending a day at sea, the ship proceeded to its next scheduled port, the Greek island of Crete.
"We were told we could not dock in Turkey because of moral values," Campbell said.
The Egyptian consulate did not respond to requests for comment.