Cruise Ship "Scarlet Lady" Docks in Crete After Turkey and Egypt Refused Entry

After the refusal by Turkey and Egypt, the ship reached the port of Souda in Crete early on Friday as an unscheduled stop. Souda is located near the city of Chania in the west of the Greek island. There, passengers were able to disembark and briefly interrupt their journey.

Reactions and Next Stops

After the stay in Souda, the "Scarlet Lady" is scheduled to continue its journey as planned toward Montenegro, ERT reported, citing the responsible authorities. The route will thus be reintegrated into the original schedule after the unplanned stop in Crete.

The incident throws a spotlight on the treatment of LGBTQ travelers in third countries. Cruises that specifically target gay and queer guests have become a growing segment in international tourism in recent years. For such trips, shipping lines and organizers place value on safe and accepting destinations.

Legal Situation in the Countries Concerned

The rejection by Turkey and Egypt reflects the legal situation in both countries. In Turkey, homosexuality is not explicitly banned but is under social pressure; in Egypt, same-sex sexual activity is prosecuted under criminal law. Both states have repeatedly banned events with an LGBTQ connection in recent years.

For the passengers, the unplanned stop in Souda means primarily a logistical interruption. Atlantis Events had previously planned Kuşadası on the Turkish Aegean coast and apparently also Egyptian ports as stops. These parts of the program were cancelled at short notice by the decision of the two governments.

ERT reported on Friday morning that the ship had moored in Souda and that the supply of passengers was ensured. The authorities initially did not publish any information on the duration of the stay or on planned excursions on Crete. A statement from Atlantis Events was also not initially available.

The shipping line Virgin Voyages, which owns the "Scarlet Lady," had leased the ship to Atlantis Events for the duration of the charter trip. During regular operations, the ship is marketed with a mixed passenger structure and a family-friendly concept, according to industry sources. Different priorities apply for the duration of the Atlantis trip.

After the stop in Greece, the planned route continues to Montenegro. The cruise thus remains feasible overall despite the cancellations in the eastern Mediterranean. Industry observers assess the incident as a further indication of how strongly political framework conditions influence the route planning of LGBTQ charter cruises.