The Scarlet Lady, a Virgin Voyages cruise ship chartered by Atlantis Events, was denied entry into Turkish and Egyptian ports in early July 2026, affecting approximately 2,000 passengers during its Mediterranean journey.
Scheduled Turkish and Egyptian Stops Blocked Early in Cruise
Departing Athens on July 5, 2026, the Scarlet Lady embarked on a 10-night cruise with a planned itinerary that included Turkish ports Kuşadası and Istanbul, followed by Alexandria, Egypt. These stops were part of a Mediterranean route ending in Venice, Italy.
Shortly after departure, Turkish authorities blocked the vessel from docking in their ports, citing that the cruise was chartered by groups “known for behaviours incompatible with the
fabric of our society and our moral values.” This Turkish decision came amid significant public concern and resulted in the cancellation of Turkish port calls.
Alexandria Port Denies Entry, Passengers Notified on July 9
Following Turkey’s rejection, Egyptian authorities similarly denied the Scarlet Lady entry to Alexandria port around July 9, 2026, with no official public explanation for the refusal. Passengers, including about 1,100 from the U.S. and others from Canada, the U.K., and Australia, were informed early on the day of the planned Alexandria stop that the ship would no longer call there.
Rich Campbell, CEO of Atlantis Events, communicated to passengers: “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.” He added the cruise had sailed a similar itinerary without issues the previous year and expressed disappointment at the decision.
Government Statements and Passenger Reactions
Turkish officials publicly stated the ban on docking was due to the group’s behaviours being “incompatible with the fabric of our society and our moral values” and dismissed any port visits due to public objection. Egypt did not provide a public reason for the denial.
Onboard Broadway performer Patti LuPone commented on the Turkish ban, stating,
“A ship — a magnificent ship — full of gay men. And me. Denied entry to Turkey simply because of who is onboard. I am furious.” Passenger Randy Slovacek noted this was the first time in Atlantis Events’ 36-year history that a ship had been denied entry in two countries within one week.
Revised Itinerary and Passenger Impact
Following the port refusals, the Scarlet Lady’s itinerary was revised multiple times, replacing Turkish and Egyptian stops with alternate Mediterranean destinations such as Chania on Crete, Santorini, Kotor in Montenegro, Dubrovnik and Zadar in Croatia, and Trieste, Italy, with an expected arrival in Trieste by July 15.
Passengers who had booked private tours in Egypt, including visits to pyramids and museums at Alexandria, faced cancellations. Many passengers had prepared early for the canceled Alexandria day, which had been anticipated as a tour highlight.
Background and Industry Context
Atlantis Events had conducted 13 successful cruises to Turkey over the past 25 years with no previous denials. The current Turkish government under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has taken an increasingly hardline stance on LGBTQ+ rights, which appears relevant to the denial.
Attempts to overturn the Turkish docking ban, including calls involving the U.S. embassy in Turkey, were unsuccessful. Industry observers express concern that
these dual bans could influence other countries’ policies regarding LGBTQ+ charter cruises.
