Turkey Bars U.S. LGBTQ+ Cruise From Docking

Turkish officials cited 'moral values' when cancelling the ship's planned Turkish calls, forcing the Scarlet Lady to reroute to Cairo and Crete.

Overview

Local authorities in Aydın province and Istanbul refused to permit an Atlantis Events–chartered cruise to berth, saying the voyage did not align with local 'moral standards' and 'family values'.
Atlantis Events notified roughly 1,900 passengers that the Scarlet Lady will skip Kuşadası and Istanbul and instead call at Cairo and the Greek island of Crete.
Rich Campbell, Atlantis's CEO, said this is the first time in the company's 36-year history it was explicitly told it could not berth because of who its passengers are.
Istanbul officials reported a police raid on a bar they linked to an 'Atlantis brochure,' a connection that Atlantis disputes, and performers and organizers have publicly protested the bans.
Rights groups say the move reflects a longer trend of restrictions on LGBTQ+ public expression in Turkey that has included bans on Istanbul Pride and rising hostile rhetoric from ruling-party figures.