Why Did Turkey Deny Entry to an LGBTQ+ Cruise Ship Carrying 2,000 Passengers?

A cruise ship carrying around 2,000 LGBTQ+ passengers and Broadway star Patti LuPone has been denied entry to Turkey after authorities said the event did not align with the country's "social structure and moral values."

Ship Departed From Athens For 10 Day Voyage

The Virgin Voyages ship Scarlet Lady departed from Athens on July 5 for a 10 day chartered voyage organised by Atlantis Events, a US based company that hosts travel experiences for LGBTQ+ communities. The trip was billed as an "all g*y voyage" and included scheduled stops in Turkey's port city of Kusadasi on July 7 and later Istanbul. G*y Rights 'of no Importance' in Kenya, Says Uhuru Kenyatta.

Turkish Authorities Cancel Planned Docking

Turkish authorities cancelled the planned docking, stating that the vessel was chartered "by groups known for behaviours that do not align with the structure of our society and our moral values." Turkey: Anti-LGBTQ Demonstration Reflects Country’s Political Shift.

"There is absolutely no possibility of the group in question visiting our province for an event of this nature," authorities added.

The cruise ship, owned by Richard Branson backed Virgin Voyages, has previously visited Turkish ports multiple times without incident. Atlantis Events said it had docked in Istanbul and Kusadasi 13 times over the past 25 years.

Atlantis Events CEO Calls Decision Unprecedented

Rich Campbell, president and CEO of Atlantis Events, told US media outlets he was shocked by the decision, calling it the first time in the company's 36 year history that it had been "actively told we may not berth here because of who we are."

"It's pretty stunning, to be honest. I mean, and the reasoning behind it is that it's a g*y group. It's very concerning to me when a country decides they can pick and choose which tourists are allowed in and which are not," Campbell told CNN.

Patti LuPone Reacts On Instagram

Broadway actor Patti LuPone, 77, who is performing onboard, also expressed surprise at the development on Instagram.

Turkey Denies Entry To Cruise Ship Carrying 2,000 LGBTQ+ Passengers

"The Atlantis cruise I am performing on next week has been banned from entering Turkey. A ship, a magnificent ship, full of g*y men. And me. Denied entry to Turkey simply because of who is on board. I am furious, but I am sailing, as the ship will make other ports of call. I am ready to perform for all the wonderful men on this Atlantis cruise, who deserve so much better than this," she wrote.

Cruise To Reroute Via Egypt And Greece

Following the cancellation, organisers said the cruise will now reroute, with planned stops in Cairo, Egypt and the Greek island of Crete instead of Turkey. The Turkish government has not yet issued an official comment on the decision.

Backdrop Of Turkey's LGBTQ+ Rights Record

The move comes amid ongoing criticism from human rights groups over Turkey's stance on LGBTQ+ rights. While homosexuality is not illegal in the country, Pride marches in Istanbul have been banned since 2015, with authorities citing security concerns. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and members of his ruling party have frequently drawn criticism for using harsh rhetoric against LGBTQ+ communities.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 06, 2026 03:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).