An LGBTQ+ cruise ship, the Scarlet Lady, was recently denied entry to Egyptian waters after Turkey had previously refused it access. The ship’s 2,000 passengers, including Broadway star Patti LuPone, woke to a note under their cabin doors indicating that the cruise line was urgently searching for alternative ports. Rich Campbell, the CEO of Atlantis Events, which chartered the Virgin Voyages ship, expressed disappointment in a letter to passengers, explaining the unexpected decision and noting the efforts made to secure the visit to Alexandria.
The cruise had been re-routed after being turned away from Turkey, where authorities cited "moral values" as the reason for denying entry to the LGBTQ+ group. This marked the first time in Atlantis’s 36-year history that a ship had been refused entry to two different countries in a single week. Randy Slovacek, a passenger, reflected on the unprecedented nature of the situation, stating that the group would not be dissuaded from enjoying their travel experiences.
Kyle Olsen, another tour operator, speculated that Turkey’s actions might have influenced Egypt’s decision. He criticized the increasing restrictions faced by LGBTQ+ travelers and mentioned the emotional toll on passengers who had been eagerly preparing for excursions in Egypt, such as visiting the pyramids.
Currently, the ship has had to modify its itinerary once again, with plans to dock in Chania, Crete, and Montenegro instead. Despite the setbacks, LuPone reaffirmed her commitment to perform and support the cruise attendees. Both Atlantis Events and Virgin Voyages have been contacted for further comments regarding the incident.
For more details, you can explore these topics: LGBTQ+ rights, Turkey, Egypt.
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