Egypt Denies Docking to LGBT Cruise Ship After Turkey's Ban Sparks Controversy

The luxury cruise ship "Scarlet Lady," carrying nearly 2,000 passengers on an LGBT-focused voyage organized by Atlantis Events, was denied permission to dock at Alexandria port in Egypt on July 9, 2026. This move followed a similar ban by Turkish authorities earlier in the week, who refused the ship entry to Istanbul and Kusadasi ports. The ship had departed from Athens and was scheduled to stop in Turkey before continuing to Venice.

Rich Campbell, CEO of Atlantis Events, stated that all necessary approvals for docking in Egypt had been obtained in advance, as was the case with two previous cruises to Egypt over the past two years. However, the Egyptian authorities canceled the docking permission at the last moment while the ship was already en route, forcing it to turn away from Alexandria. Campbell described the situation as "unprecedented, strange, and sad." Approximately 1,200 shore excursions had been sold through local operators, and local authorities were prepared for the visit.

Passengers were informed overnight that the planned stop in Alexandria, which included tours to Cairo and the Egyptian Museum, was canceled. The company announced it was seeking an alternative port. Turkey's ban was officially justified by authorities citing that the passengers' behavior did not align with the region's social structure and moral values. The decision sparked public outcry, including from Broadway star Patti LuPone, who was scheduled to perform on the cruise. LuPone expressed shock and anger on Instagram but affirmed she would perform at other ports.

The bans highlight ongoing regional tensions regarding LGBT rights and social norms, with Egypt following Turkey's lead in restricting access to the LGBT-focused cruise. The cruise company is now working to find alternative arrangements for the remainder of the voyage.