Turkey Blocks LGBTQ+ Cruise Calls, Forcing Itinerary Change

An LGBTQ+ charter cruise aboard Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady has been forced to alter its itinerary after Turkish authorities canceled its scheduled port calls, according to Atlantis Events, a leading organizer of LGBTQ+ cruises and vacations.

In a message sent to passengers, Atlantis Events confirmed that planned visits to Istanbul and Kuşadası had been removed despite extensive efforts to keep the original itinerary.

We have had to change the ports in our itinerary to remove both port calls to Turkey,” Atlantis Events CEO Rich Campbell wrote to guests. “Despite exhaustive efforts on our part to reverse this decision, our calls to Istanbul and Kusadasi have been canceled by the Turkish Authorities.”

The company said the decision was outside its control and announced that the cruise would instead call at Alexandria, Egypt, and Heraklion, Greece.

“It’s pretty stunning, to be honest. And the reasoning behind it is that it’s a gay group,” Atlantis Events President and CEO Rich Campbell told CNN.

Although Atlantis Events did not receive an official explanation for the cancellations, Turkish media reported that authorities objected to the voyage because it was being promoted as an LGBTQ+ cruise.

According to reports from Turkish news outlet Bianet, the Governor’s Office of Aydın Province, where Kuşadası is located, stated that allowing the vessel to visit the port “with an organization as described” was “absolutely out of the question.” Officials said the group’s arrival and planned activities were viewed as incompatible with the province’s social structure and moral values, adding that the visit had raised concerns among sections of the local community.

The controversy also extended beyond the cruise. Turkish media reported that Istanbul’s Beyoğlu District Governor’s Office ordered the closure of Tek Yön, one of the city’s longest-established LGBTQ+ venues, after it shared a social media post welcoming passengers from the Atlantis cruise. Authorities claimed the venue had breached legal regulations, while the nightclub denied organizing any special event for the cruise, saying its post simply invited visitors to attend one of its regular parties.

The changes affect Atlantis Events’ 10-day Mediterranean charter aboard Scarlet Lady, which is scheduled to depart Athens on July 5 and conclude in Venice. The original itinerary included Mykonos, Kuşadası, Istanbul, Santorini, Dubrovnik, and Zadar.

Atlantis Events said it was disappointed by the outcome, noting that Turkey has been one of its most popular destinations over the years. The company said it has operated 13 full-ship charters to Istanbul and other Turkish ports since 2000, bringing around 25,000 guests to the country, and expressed hope that it will be able to return in the future.