Turkey blocks LGBTQ+ cruise ship from docking, citing “moral values”

The decision has sparked international criticism and raised fresh concerns over the country’s growing restrictions on LGBTQ+ visibility and freedom of expression.

Turkey has barred an LGBTQ+ cruise carrying nearly 2,000 passengers from docking at two of its ports, marking what organizers say is the first time in the company's history that a voyage has been refused entry solely because of the identity of its passengers.

The Scarlet Lady, operated by Virgin Voyages and chartered by the US travel company Atlantis Events, was scheduled to stop in Kuşadası and Istanbul during a 10-day Mediterranean itinerary from Athens to Venice. Instead, Turkish authorities canceled both port calls after officials in Aydın province said the passengers were "known for behaviours" that did not align with "the structure of our society and our moral values."

According to Atlantis Events CEO Rich Campbell, the company has organized cruises to Turkey for more than two decades and has visited the country 13 times without incident. He said this was the first time in the company's 36-year history that access had been denied explicitly because of the nature of its clientele rather than security or logistical concerns. Campbell stressed that the cruise was intended as a tourism trip, not a political event.

Among those on board was acclaimed Broadway performer Patti LuPone, who was scheduled to perform during the voyage. In a statement posted on social media, LuPone said she was "furious" that the ship had been denied entry "simply because of who is on board," while confirming she would remain on the cruise after its itinerary was changed.

The ship was rerouted to alternative destinations after the Turkish ban. Days later, it also faced another setback when Egyptian authorities denied the vessel permission to dock in Alexandria, forcing organizers to make further last-minute changes to the itinerary. No official explanation was publicly provided by Egypt.

The decision comes amid a years-long deterioration of LGBTQ+ rights in Turkey. Although same-sex relations remain legal, Pride marches have effectively been banned since 2015, LGBTQ+ organizations face increasing restrictions, and senior government officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, have repeatedly portrayed LGBTQ+ communities as threats to "family values." 

Human rights organizations have documented an escalating crackdown on freedom of assembly and expression, with the cruise ban taking place alongside broader restrictions imposed ahead of this year's NATO summit in Ankara.

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