A Mediterranean cruise carrying nearly 2,000 passengers, most of them gay men, has been turned away by Egypt, just days after Turkey refused to let the same ship dock at two of its ports.
Egyptian authorities have not provided an official explanation for denying the vessel entry. Passengers aboard the Scarlet Lady were informed of the decision on Thursday through a letter delivered to their cabins, confirming that the scheduled stop at Alexandria had been cancelled. The ship, operated by Virgin Voyages and chartered by LGBTQ+ travel company Atlantis Events, is sailing on a 10-day voyage from Athens to Venice.
Egypt follows Turkey’s refusal
In a message to passengers, Atlantis Events CEO Rich Campbell said the company was surprised by Egypt’s decision, noting that it had successfully operated a similar cruise itinerary in the country last year.
“Both the Atlantis and Virgin Voyages teams worked tirelessly to make this call in Alexandria a possibility. This news came as a surprise to all of us, and we’re just as disappointed as you are,” Campbell wrote, adding that efforts were immediately underway to arrange an alternative destination.
The latest disruption comes after Turkish authorities denied the Scarlet Lady permission to dock in Istanbul and Kusadasi. Officials cited concerns over the charter group’s activities, saying they did not align with the country’s “moral values” and had triggered public concern.
According to Turkish authorities, the visit was cancelled because the cruise had been chartered by groups “known for behaviours that do not align with the structure of our society and our moral values.”
Itinerary disrupted
The repeated refusals have forced changes to the ship’s Mediterranean route. Before Egypt’s decision, the cruise had been scheduled to stop in Alexandria before continuing to the Greek island of Crete.
Turkey’s move is seen against the backdrop of increasing restrictions on LGBTQ+ visibility under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government. While homosexuality is legal in the country, Pride marches have been banned for several years and participants have frequently been detained during attempted gatherings.
Comments are closed.