LGBTQ+ CRUISE WITH 2,000 ABOARD DENIED ENTRY TO EGYPT
Egypt denied entry to the Scarlet Lady cruise ship carrying roughly 2,000 LGBTQ+ passengers, days after Turkey barred the same charter.
The Virgin Voyages ship, chartered by Atlantis Events, was set to dock in Alexandria on July 9, 2026, but was turned away shortly before arrival, Atlantis president and CEO Rich Campbell told USA TODAY. The voyage was a 10-night Mediterranean run from Athens to Trieste, Italy.
The notification sent to passengers read: “We’re incredibly disappointed to share that Scarlet Lady has just been denied entry into Egyptian waters and will no longer be able to call in Alexandria,” The PinkNews reported.
Campbell said Egypt had approved the ship’s arrival before reversing. “We were given full approval to arrive (in) Egypt and just four hours before we picked up the pilot and customs officers we were told that the ship would not be allowed to enter the harbor,” he wrote in an email.
“No explanation was given for this decision and we are very disappointed,” he added.
Turkey said no first
Egypt was never the original plan. The Scarlet Lady left Athens on July 5, 2026, and the Egypt stop was substituted after Turkish authorities barred the ship.
Authorities in Aydın province said the planned Kuşadası port call was canceled after causing concern in parts of society. Their statement, translated into English, called the charter group “known for behavior that does not align with the values and moral standards of our society.” It also said allowing the event to take place was “absolutely out of the question,” NBC Miami reported.
Patti LuPone, who USA TODAY said was scheduled to perform aboard, wrote in a post about the Turkey ban: “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, but I am sailing, as the ship will make other ports of call.”
Egypt’s refusal then made headlines at outlets including the Hollywood Reporter.
Atlantis said it had no trouble before
Campbell said Atlantis had a clean record in Alexandria. “Last year, we brought 2,500 guests to Alexandria and the year before 1,200, both without incident,” he said.
NBC Miami described Atlantis as the world’s largest gay and lesbian vacation company.
What happened next
The PinkNews reported that the ship’s replacement schedule included Chania, Crete, and Kotor, Montenegro.
A South Florida passenger interviewed by NBC Miami said travelers were disappointed after the ship lost both the Turkey and Egypt stops.
Virgin Voyages said it had operated the itinerary before and was disappointed by the cancellations. The cruise was scheduled to end in Trieste on July 15, 2026.
Atlantis said it hoped the situation was an isolated incident and that it could return to the region in the future.
