The cruise ship Scarlet Lady, owned by Virgin Voyages and chartered by Atlantis Events, was denied entry into Egyptian waters on July 9, 2026, and previously blocked from Turkish ports earlier that week. Approximately 2,000 passengers, primarily gay men including Broadway performer Patti LuPone, were aboard during the chartered 10-day voyage. The Egyptian government did not publicly specify reasons for the denial, while Turkey cited moral and social grounds for its refusal.
Itinerary Changes After Port Denials
The cruise departed Athens, Greece, on July 5, 2026, originally planned to call at Kuşadası and Istanbul in Turkey before sailing to Venice, Italy. Following Turkey’s refusal of
port access, the itinerary was revised to include Alexandria, Egypt, and Crete, Greece. Egypt’s denial on July 9 forced a further reroute, with the ship set to stop at Chania (Crete) on July 10; Kotor, Montenegro, on July 12; Dubrovnik and Zadar in Croatia; and finally arriving in Trieste, Italy, on July 15, 2026.
Statements from Officials and Passengers
Rich Campbell, CEO of Atlantis Events, informed passengers that the denial by Egypt was unexpected, stating, “Early this morning, we were informed that Scarlet Lady has been denied entry into Egyptian waters, and, as a result, will no longer be able to call in Alexandria today.”
Campbell added, “The reasoning behind it is that it’s a gay group,” and described the decision as “pretty stunning.”
Turkish authorities issued an online statement explaining the refusal as resulting from the cruise being chartered “by groups known for behaviours that do not align with the structure of our society and our moral values,” saying the visit “sparked significant public concern.” Patti LuPone responded on Instagram, saying, “A ship — a magnificent ship — full of gay men. And me. Denied entry to Turkey simply because of who is on board. I am furious.” Comedian Zach Noe Towers, also onboard,
expressed frustration that they were “too gay to come spend a bunch of money” in these countries.
Impact on Passengers and Tours
Passengers were informed of the Egyptian denial just as they awoke on July 9, 2026, through a note slipped under cabin doors and notifications via the Virgin Voyages app. Many had booked and paid for private tours in Alexandria to visit the pyramids and museums, all canceled due to the last-minute port call change. Kyle Olsen, owner of LGBTQ+ tour operator Hermes Holidays, noted that what was expected to be a highlight of the cruise became uncertain at the final hour.
Randy Slovacek,
a passenger, highlighted that in Atlantis Events’ 36-year history, this was the first time a ship had been denied entry in two countries during one voyage. Despite the disruptions, he stated passengers were prepared to continue the voyage and spend their tourism dollars elsewhere.
Background on Regional Stance and Previous History
Turkey’s rejection of the Scarlet Lady reflects a hardening position under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government toward LGBTQ+ groups, with draft legislation potentially criminalizing same-sex commitment ceremonies. Prior to this, Atlantis Events had successfully chartered cruises to Turkey 13 times over 25 years without incident.
Egypt did not issue a public statement explaining its denial. However,
the dual refusals within days mark a shift in access to regional ports for LGBTQ+ cruises, underscoring challenges faced by this segment of tourism.
Industry Reactions and Regional Tourism Concerns
Kyle Olsen commented that the decisions by Turkey and Egypt could embolden other countries to ban LGBTQ+ cruises from their ports. He added he would not recommend those destinations to clients following these events. Olsen emphasized that government policies do not necessarily reflect the attitudes of local populations, recalling warm receptions during previous visits to both countries.
The Scarlet Lady was rerouted to call at Chania in Crete, Montenegro, Dubrovnik, and Zadar in Croatia before reaching
its final port in Trieste, Italy, on July 15, 2026. The denials marked an unprecedented situation for Atlantis Events, raising questions about future access for similar cruises in the region.
