Turkish authorities denied a planned stop for a chartered LGBTQ+ cruise carrying approximately 1,900 passengers, most of them Americans, according to local officials and the event organizer.
The Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady was scheduled to visit Kuşadası and Istanbul. However, officials in Turkey’s Aydın province said the group was “known for behaviors incompatible with the fabric of our society and our moral values,” and the planned port calls were canceled.
Turkey has no nationwide law prohibiting LGBTQ+ visitors, but government leaders have increasingly emphasized traditional family values in recent years. The decision has sparked discussion over the balance between a nation’s right to uphold its cultural standards and the expectations of international tourism.