Summary (tl;dr)

An LGBTQ+ chartered cruise by Atlantis Events on Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady has been denied entry by both Turkish and Egyptian authorities within days, forcing multiple itinerary changes for its nearly 2,000 passengers.

Essential Background

Atlantis Events is a long-standing travel company, operating for over three decades, that organizes cruises and resort vacations catering primarily to the LGBTQ+ community. For these events, Atlantis Events charters entire cruise ships, such as the Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady. The current voyage in question was a 10-night Mediterranean cruise, originally planned to sail from Athens to Venice, with scheduled stops that included the Turkish cities of Kuşadası and Istanbul. Notably, Atlantis Events had successfully run similar itineraries in the region in previous years without encountering any issues.

The Full Story

The Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady, operating an LGBTQ+ cruise chartered by Atlantis Events, was initially denied entry for its planned port calls in Kuşadası and Istanbul, Turkey, between July 7 and 9, 2026. Turkish officials publicly stated that the refusal was due to the chartered group's "behaviors that do not align with the structure of our society and our moral values." In response to this denial, the cruise itinerary was adjusted to include a stop in Alexandria, Egypt. However, on July 9, 2026, just shy of 100 miles from Alexandria, Egyptian officials also denied the ship entry into their waters, though no official reason was provided for this decision. This unexpected second refusal necessitated another rerouting, with the cruise now scheduled to make calls in Chania, Crete, and Montenegro.

Why It Matters

The repeated denial of port entry to an LGBTQ+ chartered cruise raises significant concerns about potential discrimination and the imposition of arbitrary restrictions on tourism based on passenger identity. Rich Campbell, CEO of Atlantis Events, voiced his alarm, describing the Turkish decision as "stunning" and deeply troubling, particularly the notion of a country "decid[ing] they can pick and choose which tourists are allowed in and which are not." This incident has resulted in considerable disruption and disappointment for the almost 2,000 passengers on board, many of whom had invested in private tours and excursions for the now-canceled port visits, including major historical sites in Egypt. Given that cruise ticket contracts typically grant cruise lines broad discretion to alter itineraries, passengers may have limited legal recourse for the missed stops.

Geographic Location

• Kuşadası, Aydın Province, Turkey (initial port denial for LGBTQ+ cruise)
• Istanbul, Turkey (initial port denial for LGBTQ+ cruise)
• Alexandria, Egypt (second port denial for LGBTQ+ cruise)