An LGBTQ+ cruise ship, Scarlet Lady, has been refused entry to Egypt, just days after being turned away from Turkey. The ship, carrying 2,000 passengers, including Broadway performer Patti LuPone, had been scheduled to dock in Alexandria, but was informed by Egyptian authorities that it would not be allowed to enter the country. The news was met with disappointment from passengers, who had been looking forward to visiting Egypt.
Rich Campbell, the chief executive of Atlantis Events, the tour group that chartered the ship, expressed surprise and disappointment at the decision, stating that the company had successfully sailed a similar itinerary in Egypt last year without issue. The ship’s visit to Egypt was already a change to the planned tour, after it was refused entry to Turkey. Turkish authorities had stated that the cruise was chartered by groups known for behaviors that do not align with the country’s moral values, sparking significant public concern.
The ship’s arrival had been cancelled, with authorities stating that there was no possibility of the group visiting the province for an event of this nature. Kyle Olsen, the owner of Hermes Holidays, another LGBTQ+ tour company, said he believed that if Turkey had not refused entry to the ship this week, Egypt would not have issued its ban. Olsen expressed worry that other countries may ban gay cruises from their ports, and stated that he would not be recommending Turkey or Egypt to his customers in the future.
The ship has now been rerouted for a second time, and will be docking in Chania, Crete, on Friday and Montenegro on Sunday. Patti LuPone, who is performing on the ship, shared her shock and outrage at the news on Instagram, stating that she was furious but would continue to perform for the passengers. Olsen, who has friends onboard the Scarlet Lady, said the Egypt stop had been expected to be a high point of the tour by the passengers, who had got up at 6am to be ready for the day.
This was literally a last-minute call by the Egyptian government, said Olsen. The night before, everything was fine. Lots of passengers had paid a lot of money for private tours to see the pyramids and the museums.
It was going to be the trip of a lifetime but now they’re in limbo.
