Turkey has blocked a Virgin Voyages cruise ship from docking at two of its ports because the voyage was organized for LG...

Turkey has blocked a Virgin Voyages cruise ship from docking at two of its ports because the voyage was organized for LGBTQ+ travelers. The Scarlet Lady, carrying roughly 1,900 passengers, departed Athens today on a 10-day Mediterranean itinerary that was supposed to include stops at Kusadasi and Istanbul. Late yesterday, travel company Atlantis Events notified passengers that Turkish authorities had refused permission for the ship to enter either port. CEO Rich Campbell told passengers that despite exhaustive efforts to reverse the decision, both Turkish stops were canceled by Turkish authorities. He cited the reason directly: the cruise was organized for groups whose behavior Turkish officials considered incompatible with "the fabric of Turkish society and our moral values." The Governor's Office of Aydin Province, where Kusadasi is located, stated that permitting the ship to visit "with an organization as described" was "completely out of the question." Istanbul's Beyoglu district authorities also ordered the closure of Tek Yon, one of the city's oldest LGBTQ+ clubs, on the same day, citing legal violations. The ship's itinerary was rerouted to include a full day in Alexandria, Egypt, with excursions to Cairo and the Egyptian Museum, plus a stop in Heraklion, Crete. Atlantis Events apologized to passengers and said the decision was entirely outside its control. The move marks a sharp shift from past practice. Since 2000, Atlantis Events had organized 13 chartered cruises to Istanbul and other Turkish ports, bringing approximately 25,000 visitors to the country. The company said it hopes to return with future itineraries. Turkey has not criminalized same-sex relations since 1858 and sets the age of consent at 18, but the country has no anti-discrimination laws and does not recognize same-sex marriage. President Erdogan's ruling party has been openly hostile to LGBTQ+ visibility for years, with Istanbul Pride marches banned since 2015. #Turkey #LGBTQ #MediterraneanTravel