Egypt Bans Gay Cruise Ship from Docking Following Turkey's Lead

The Scarlet Lady cruise ship, chartered by the LGBT tour operator Atlantis Events, was unable to make its scheduled stop in Egypt after authorities banned the vessel from entering the country’s territorial waters. The ship, sailing from Athens to Venice, is carrying around 2,000 gay passengers.

The stop in Alexandria, Egypt, was not part of the original itinerary. It was added after Turkey also denied the ship entry to the ports of Istanbul and Kuşadası earlier this week. Turkish authorities explained the ban by stating that the cruise was organized by groups whose behavior does not align with the moral values of society. Egyptian authorities have not provided an official reason for the refusal.

Rich Campbell, President of Atlantis Events, informed passengers that in the company’s 36-year history, this is the first time a ship has been denied port entry, with two rejections occurring in a single week.

As reported by The Guardian , Kyle Olsen, owner of the travel agency Hermes Holidays, suggested that Egypt’s decision may have been a reaction to Turkey’s actions. He expressed concern that other nations might also begin closing their ports to LGBT cruises due to the influence of right-wing political groups.

Following the latest itinerary change, the Scarlet Lady will head to Chania, Greece, and Kotor, Montenegro.