Turkey has barred an LGBTQ+ cruise carrying thousands of international passengers from docking at its ports, with local authorities reportedly citing “moral standards” and “family values” in the controversial decision.
The cruise, organised by US-based Atlantis Events, was due to visit the Turkish resort town of Kuşadası and later Istanbul as part of its 10-day “Athens to Venice” itinerary, which departs from Greece on 5 July.
However, Turkish officials informed organisers that the ship would not be permitted to dock because it had been chartered by groups “known for behaviours incompatible with the fabric of our society and our moral values”.
The vessel, the Scarlet Lady, is expected to carry around 1,900 passengers, including more than 1,100 from the United States, alongside travellers from the UK, Canada, Australia and other countries.
Following Turkey’s decision, Atlantis Events confirmed that the cruise will now call at Cairo in Egypt and the Greek island of Crete instead.
Rich Campbell, president and chief executive of Atlantis Events, said he was shocked by the move and claimed it was the first time in the company’s 36-year history that it had been prevented from docking because of the identity of its passengers.
“It’s pretty stunning, to be honest. And the reasoning behind it is that it’s a gay group,” Campbell told CNN. “It’s very concerning to me when a country decides they can pick and choose which tourists are allowed in and which are not.”
Authorities in Turkey’s Aydın province, where Kuşadası is located, reportedly said there was “absolutely no possibility” of allowing the group to visit for an event of that nature.
The decision comes amid continuing concerns from human rights organisations over the treatment of LGBTQ+ people in Turkey. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling AK Party has adopted increasingly hostile rhetoric towards the LGBTQ+ community in recent years, while Pride marches have been banned in Istanbul since 2015, officially on public safety and security grounds.
The incident has sparked criticism from campaigners and tourism advocates, who argue that the move sends a damaging message about inclusivity and international visitors.
Atlantis Events describes the voyage as an “epic adventure” around the Mediterranean, offering passengers the opportunity to visit destinations including the Greek islands and Croatia.
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