Egypt blocks entry to 2SLGBTQ+ cruise days after Turkey did the same
Egypt blocks entry to 2SLGBTQ+ cruise days after Turkey did the same (CBC)
The Scarlet Lady cruise ship has changed its itinerary for the second time this week, after first Turkey and now Egypt denied it entry to their ports.
The ship, owned by Virgin Voyages and chartered by 2SLGBTQ+ travel company Atlantis Events, is carrying 1,900 passengers, including legendary Broadway performer Patti LuPone.
The passengers found out on Thursday the cruise would not be heading to Alexandria, Egypt, as a replacement for previously planned stops to Kuşadası and Istanbul in Turkey. Earlier this week, Turkish authorities cancelled the planned port calls, saying the cruise was chartered by groups "known for behaviours incompatible with the fabric of our society and our moral values."
The itinerary was then revised to replace the Turkish stops with calls in Alexandria, Egypt and Crete, Greece.
But shortly before the ship was due to arrive in Alexandria, passengers were notified through the Virgin Voyages app that the vessel had also been denied entry into Egyptian waters.
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Neither Egyptian officials, Virgin Voyages nor Atlantis Events had publicly explained why the Alexandria call was denied. Unlike Turkey, Egypt has not publicly cited a reason for refusing the ship entry.
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