Egyptian authorities have denied the entry of the cruise ship Scarlet Lady, operated by Virgin Voyages, into Alexandria as part of its Eastern Mediterranean itinerary on July 8, 2026. Currently chartered to Atlantis Events for an LGBTQ+ voyage, the denial was met with disappointment from the ship’s organizers, who informed guests onboard about the situation.
As the Scarlet Lady approached the port in the early hours of Wednesday, AIS data showed the vessel turning around. In response to the setback, Atlantis Events announced it was actively seeking an alternative port to accommodate the passengers.
Originally, the Scarlet Lady set sail from Piraeus on July 5, 2026, on a ten-night cruise with plans to visit Greece, Croatia, and Turkey. However, due to local port restrictions in Turkey, stops in Istanbul and Kusadasi were canceled before departure. Authorities in Turkey indicated the vessel was unwelcome, prompting a change in the itinerary. As a result, the planned visit to Alexandria was included instead of Turkish ports.
Despite these changes, the cruise retained other scheduled stops, such as Souda Bay in Crete, Mykonos, Santorini, Dubrovnik, and Zadar. The voyage is set to conclude at the port of Trieste on July 15, 2026. Following this, the Scarlet Lady will embark on another LGBTQ+ voyage from Trieste to Barcelona, visiting cities across Italy, Spain, and France, including stops in Split, Valletta, and Marseille.
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