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Turkey has barred an LGBTQ+ charter cruise from docking at Kuşadası and Istanbul, citing "moral values" and "family structure." The Atlantis Events voyage will now stop in Cairo and Crete instead. CEO Rich Campbell called the move unprecedented, saying passengers were denied entry because they are a gay group. The cruise is expected to carry around 1,900 travelers, mostly from the US

A cruise carrying LGBTQ+ travelers has been barred from docking at Turkish ports after authorities canceled its scheduled stops, citing the country's "moral values" and "family structure."

The 10-day Mediterranean voyage, organized by Atlantis Events, is set to depart from Athens, Greece, on July 5. It was originally scheduled to stop at the Turkish port town of Kuşadası before visiting Istanbul. Following Turkey's decision, the itinerary has been revised, with the ship now set to visit Cairo, Egypt, and the Greek island of Crete instead.

Authorities in Aydın province, where Kuşadası is located, said the cruise was chartered by groups "known for behaviors incompatible with the fabric of our society and our moral values." They added there was "absolutely no possibility of the group in question visiting our province for an event of this nature."

The voyage is being operated aboard the Scarlet Lady, a ship owned by Virgin Voyages. Around 1,900 passengers are expected on board, including nearly 1,100 travelers from the United States, along with visitors from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and other countries.