Politics news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Passenger on gay cruise banned from docking in Turkey and Egypt by Muslim governments suggests fiasco is TRUMP’S fault
A chartered LGBTQ+ cruise was refused entry first by Turkey and then by Egypt, forcing last-minute changes to its itinerary and prompting anger from passengers and organisers. The refusals matter because Atlantis Events said it had never previously had a ship denied permission to dock in its 36-year history, and critics warned the decisions could encourage other governments to bar similar trips. One passenger also suggested the episode reflected a wider global shift towards more right-wing politics, which the Daily Mail framed as an attempt to connect the incident to Donald Trump.
The ship, Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady, was carrying about 2,000 passengers on a 10-day Athens-to-Venice trip, including performer Patti LuPone. Turkey said the group did not fit its society’s “moral values”, while Egypt reportedly gave no official reason after earlier becoming the replacement stop when Turkey refused access. Organisers said they had successfully run a similar route the previous year, and the ship was eventually rerouted again to places including Crete and Montenegro, leaving some passengers out of pocket for cancelled tours.
In short
- Two countries refused entry to an LGBTQ+ cruise.
- Organisers said the bans were unprecedented.
- Passengers linked it to a broader political backlash.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Turkey and Egypt, as sovereign nations, have the right to establish entry conditions reflecting their citizens' laws and values. Governments routinely restrict activities based on cultural and legal standards, and the right of national self-determination includes setting criteria for what occurs in their ports. Many nations maintain such restrictions without this being framed as unusual or unprecedented.
The case against
International principles of non-discrimination hold that people should not be denied access to ports or services based on sexual orientation. The cruise had docked successfully in these locations previously, indicating a concerning shift rather than a consistent policy. Permitting governments to bar LGBTQ+ people or events sets a dangerous precedent that could normalise discrimination globally and effectively segregate citizens based on immutable characteristics.
Explained simply
Atlantis Events organises annual cruises specifically marketed to LGBTQ+ travellers. The company chartered Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady for a 10-day trip from Athens to Venice, carrying about 2,000 passengers. When Turkey refused the ship permission to dock, citing that the group did not fit its society's "moral values", the company approached Egypt as an alternative port; Egypt also refused access without providing an official reason.
The refusals were unprecedented for Atlantis Events, which has operated for 36 years without previously being denied entry to any country. The company had successfully sailed to these same Mediterranean ports just a year earlier, making the current refusals noteworthy.
The ship was rerouted to alternative ports including Crete and Montenegro. Some passengers incurred financial losses from excursions they had booked for the original destinations that refused access. The incident has raised concerns among travel companies about the possibility of other governments restricting similar cruise itineraries.