A chartered cruise ship carrying approximately 1,900 passengers was reportedly denied entry into Egyptian waters after Turkish authorities had also refused the vessel permission to dock at two scheduled ports.
Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady, chartered by US travel operator Atlantis Events, departed Athens, Greece, on July 5 for a 10-night Mediterranean cruise scheduled to conclude in Trieste, Italy, on July 15, according to the original itinerary published by Atlantis Events.
Turkish Port Calls Cancelled
The original itinerary included calls at Kuşadası on July 7 and Istanbul on July 8 and 9. However, Atlantis Events informed passengers before departure that the ship would not be permitted to dock at either Turkish destination.
Authorities in Turkey’s Aydın province, where Kuşadası is located, said the visit had generated public concern and described the charter group as being associated with conduct incompatible with the country’s social structure and moral values, according to reporting by The Washington Post, and The Guardian.
Atlantis Events also confirmed that the planned calls at Kuşadası and Istanbul had been cancelled, although the available public statement from the Aydın authorities related specifically to the Kuşadası visit.
Reports also referred to a planned event in Istanbul associated with the ship’s visit. Atlantis said promotional material connected to that event had not been created or authorized by the company.
Alexandria Added and Subsequently Cancelled
Following the cancellation of the Turkish calls, the itinerary was revised to include Alexandria, Egypt, and a call in Crete.
Passengers were later informed that the Alexandria visit had also been cancelled. An itinerary notification sent to passengers stated that Scarlet Lady had been denied entry into Egyptian waters and would therefore be unable to call at Alexandria, according to The Washington Post.
The ship was reportedly less than 100 miles from Alexandria when it changed course during the early hours of July 9, according to Cruise Law News, which cited publicly available vessel-tracking information.
No detailed public statement from an Egyptian government authority explaining the decision had been identified at the time of publication. It therefore remains unclear which Egyptian authority issued the refusal and what official grounds were given.
Atlantis Events chief executive Rich Campbell told The Washington Post that the Egyptian decision was unexpected and said the company had operated a similar itinerary involving Egypt during the previous year.
Nature of the Charter
The cruise was organized by Atlantis Events primarily for LGBTQ+ travelers. This is relevant because Turkish officials explicitly referred to social and moral considerations when explaining the Kuşadası decision.
However, no Egyptian authority has publicly confirmed whether the nature of the charter influenced the decision concerning Alexandria. Any connection between the passengers’ identities and the Egyptian refusal therefore remains unconfirmed.
Approximately 1,100 of the roughly 1,900 passengers aboard were reported to be from the United States, according to statements attributed to Atlantis Events. Other passengers reportedly travelled from countries including the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
Broadway performer Patti LuPone was among the entertainers scheduled to appear during the voyage. Her presence contributed to international media coverage of the itinerary changes, although it was not directly connected to the operational decisions concerning the ship.
Revised Route
Following the Alexandria cancellation, the ship was redirected toward Chania, also known as Souda Bay, in Crete, with an additional call reportedly planned for Kotor, Montenegro.
The voyage was then expected to continue to Dubrovnik and Zadar in Croatia before ending in Trieste, Italy, on July 15, in accordance with the broader Athens-to-Venice itinerary originally advertised by Atlantis Events.
Virgin Voyages had not issued a separate detailed public statement explaining the decisions made by the Turkish or Egyptian authorities at the time of publication.
The precise reason for Egypt’s refusal remains unknown unless an official Egyptian authority releases further information.
Mohsen Nabil is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Diventures Magazine. A mechanical engineer and scuba diving instructor based in the Red Sea, he writes about diving safety, marine conservation, underwater exploration, and developments in the global dive industry. Through Diventures Magazine, he works to connect divers, scientists, and ocean advocates while promoting responsible diving and protection of the oceans.
