Turkey Prevents Atlantis Events Cruise from Docking at the Last Minute
Atlantis Events specializes in organizing cruises mainly for LGBTQ+ travelers. They essentially charter cruise ships and sell cabins to enthusiasts of the Atlantis Events theme. A 10-night cruise set for departure on July 5, 2026, aboard the Scarlet Lady ship, part of Richard Branson’s Virgin Voyages fleet, is designed to welcome 1,900 guests, including 1,100 from the United States.
The cruise is scheduled to begin in Athens and conclude in Venice, with planned stops in Turkey, Greece, and Croatia, before reaching Italy. Specifically, Turkey was slated for a visit to Kusadasi on July 7 and Istanbul on July 8. However, these plans have now been scrapped.
Turkish authorities have reportedly barred this cruise from entering Turkey at the last moment, citing “moral standards” and “family values,” claiming that the ship was chartered by groups “known for behaviors incompatible with the fabric of our society and our moral values.” The country has evidently been growing more conservative under Erdogan’s government.
Instead of these two Turkish ports, the ship will dock in Alexandria, Egypt, for a day, with excursions to Cairo available. In terms of equality metrics, Egypt ranks even lower than Turkey, making this an inadequate alternative. Additionally, describing the port as “Cairo (Alexandria)” seems to stretch the truth — akin to saying “Miami (Port Canaveral).” There will also be a stop in Heraklion, Greece, on the island of Crete.
Rich Campbell, CEO of Atlantis Events, remarked that this marks the first occurrence in 36 years that the company has been “actively told we may not berth here because of who we are.”
My Perspective on This Unprecedented Cruise Ship “Blocking”
It goes without saying, I’m not a supporter of Erdogan, but this response aligns with what you would expect from his administration.
While I identify as gay, I find that the concept of these Atlantis Events cruises (and their marketing) doesn’t resonate with me personally. This isn’t coming from a place of internalized homophobia, but rather as an introvert who doesn’t particularly enjoy “events” — whether they be sporty, inaugural flights, etc.
That said, this situation is indeed quite unprecedented. Different countries maintain various laws covering a range of topics, from the sale of chewing gum to same-sex activity and free speech. Nearly all nations lack laws against “being” gay, as one cannot arrest an individual for their thoughts.
In more conservative nations, the laws typically target same-sex activity, forms of self-expression, and similar issues. Even Saudi Arabia’s tourism site states that LGBT visitors are welcomed:
Are LGBT visitors welcome to visit Saudi Arabia?
Everyone is welcome to visit Saudi Arabia, and visitors are not required to disclose such personal details.
This leads me to my point — I fundamentally disagree with Turkey’s current administration and numerous laws, yet I’m somewhat surprised that this hasn’t arisen before. Why? If the cruise ship docks in Turkey and is no longer in international waters, does that equate to a “private venue” within the country?
For instance, if the atmosphere on the ship were akin to what is showcased in their promotional video, I can comprehend how officials (who tend to target private gay venues) might argue that it violates their standards.
To clarify, I completely oppose their “standards” and the enforcement of their regulations. However, if there are issues with these activities on land, it seems consistent to adopt a similar stance regarding a ship known to have a comparable atmosphere.
Final Thoughts
An Atlantis Events cruise led by Virgin Voyages is setting sail soon, which was originally intended to stop in Turkey, Greece, and Croatia, before concluding in Italy. Yet, Turkish authorities have blocked the cruise, citing “moral standards” and “family values.”
While I vehemently disagree with their standards, if a country is intent on repressing anything gay (including private venues, banning pride events, etc.), I am not surprised by this occurrence, even though this marks the first time in 36 years that Atlantis Events has faced such a situation.
Are you taken aback by Turkey’s unprecedented decision to ban this Atlantis Events cruise?