The Scarlet Lady Cruise Ship Denied Entry to Egyptian Port
Tour operator Atlantis Events, which chartered The Scarlet Lady for an LGBTQ+ traveler voyage, faced a port rejection in Egypt shortly after a similar denial from Turkey. As a result, the ship's itinerary was altered: instead of docking at Alexandria, Egypt as planned, the vessel will now head to Montenegro.
The ship departed on July 5 and was originally scheduled to stop at Kusadasi and Istanbul. However, according to Atlantis Events President and CEO Rich Campbell, roughly 2,000 passengers learned the Alexandria stop was canceled that morning. No reasons were provided by Egyptian authorities. Campbell noted that
“this news came as a shock to both the company and the travelers themselves”and expressed his outrage, stating:
“I was stunned by this decision”.
Impact of the Port Denials on the Tourism Industry
Atlantis Events specializes in trips for the LGBTQ+ community and, over 36 years of operation, had never faced a port ban before. However, as American blogger Randy Slovacek highlighted,
“now it has happened twice in one week”. Earlier, Turkey refused the ship entry to its ports during an Athens–Venice cruise, arguing that “the behavior of the groups does not align with the country's social structure and moral values.”
In Egypt, same-sex relationships are not formally illegal, but the country enforces laws against immoral behavior and debauchery, making homosexuality a taboo subject. According to Rich Campbell, “the country has effectively started picking which tourists it is willing to accept and which it is not.” The widespread backlash after Turkey's refusal may have also influenced the Egyptian authorities' decision, Randy Slovacek believes.
Instead of the planned stop in Alexandria, The Scarlet Lady will now sail to Kotor, Montenegro. On board are about 2,000 tourists, including roughly 1,100 U.S. citizens, with the rest coming from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and other nations. Thus, the situation has raised concerns not only among travelers but also across the tourism sector.
This incident highlights the growing pressure on countries trying to balance tourism business with social values. Port entry denials can negatively impact the image of travel destinations, especially among the LGBTQ+ community, potentially leading to a decline in tourist numbers. Given that such situations are recurring, it is important to monitor the international community's response and possible shifts in countries' policies toward welcoming diverse groups of travelers.