LGBTQ+ Cruise Denied Port Access in Turkey and Egypt

An LGBTQ+ cruise faced repeated port denials this week, first in Turkey and then in Egypt, disrupting its planned itinerary. The cruise ship Scarlet Lady, carrying around 2,000 passengers, was denied entry into Kusadasi, Turkey, shortly before arrival. The Aydin provincial government cited concerns over behavior deemed contrary to societal structure and moral values. Rich Campbell, CEO of Atlantis Events, which organizes the trips, stated that the ship had visited Kusadasi 13 times in the past 25 years without issue and believes the decision was based on passengers' sexuality. He emphasized that the cruise is not a political event. Subsequently, the ship was also denied docking in Alexandria, Egypt. Passengers received notes in their cabins informing them of the last-minute refusal, with the message expressing surprise given the ship's successful route the previous year. One passenger remarked that if their tourism is not wanted, they will "sparkle and spend our money elsewhere," highlighting a broader issue of discrimination faced by such groups.