ISTANBUL — Turkish authorities have denied an LGBTQ+-chartered cruise ship permission to dock at scheduled ports in Kuşadası and Istanbul, prompting organizers to reroute the voyage and accusing officials of barring entry because of the identity of the passengers.
The voyage, operated aboard Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady and chartered by U.S.-based Atlantis Events, was due to call at the western Turkish resort of Kuşadası on July 7 before continuing to Istanbul as part of a Mediterranean itinerary. Organizers said the Turkish port calls have been replaced with stops in Cairo, Egypt, and on the Greek island of Crete.
Authorities in Turkey's Aydın province said the planned visit had been canceled because the vessel had been chartered by groups "known for behaviors incompatible with the fabric of our society and our moral values." In a public statement, the governor's office said there was "absolutely no possibility" of permitting the group to visit the province for "an event of this nature," while adding that the decision would not affect broader cruise tourism in the region.
Rich Campbell, chief executive of Atlantis Events, said the company was informed only days before departure that the Turkish stops would not be allowed. He told several media outlets it was the first time in the company's 36-year history that a voyage had been denied entry explicitly because of the identity of its guests.
"The reasoning behind it is that it's a gay group," Campbell said, adding that the company viewed the decision as concerning because countries should not "pick and choose which tourists are allowed in." He said the cruise was intended as a leisure vacation rather than a political event.
The voyage is carrying about 1,900 passengers, according to organizers, most of them from the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia. Entertainment scheduled aboard the cruise, including performances by Broadway actor Patti LuPone, is expected to continue despite the itinerary change. LuPone said on social media she was "furious" over the decision but would remain on the voyage.
The decision comes amid continuing restrictions on LGBTQ+ events in Turkey. Pride marches in Istanbul have faced repeated bans in recent years, and authorities have frequently cited public order or moral concerns when restricting LGBTQ+ gatherings. Same-sex relationships are legal in Turkey, although same-sex marriage is not recognized.
As of Sunday, Turkish authorities had not announced any change to the decision, and the cruise remained scheduled to follow its revised Mediterranean route.
