Turned away: travellers share their advice after LGBTQ cruise refused entry for “breaching moral values”

Cruise Passenger readers and other cruisers always have plenty to say about what’s going on in Australian cruise, and in the broader cruise community. This week our headline issue is the turning away of LGBTQ cruiser passengers in Egypt and Türkiye. Cruisers across the internet came out to show their support to the affected cruisers and give their take on the situation.

Cruise Passenger reported how hundreds of Australians were onboard the Atlantis Voyages cruise, which was turned away from Egypt and Turkey due to the cruise being for the LGBTQ community.

The cruise was on a chartered Virgin Voyages ship, Scarlett Lady, and Türkiye said in a statement that Atlantis Voyages is “known for behaviours incompatible with the fabric of our society and our moral values.”

The organisers and many in the travel industry made it clear they saw the events as a direct attack on the LGBTQ community.

The cruise has caught worldwide headlines and caused plenty of controversy. Many cruisers have shown support to the LGBTQ community, but others have also questioned why the cruise went to those countries in the first place.

Cruisers across Reddit and Facebook took to the internet to share their takes. Some Reddit users even revealed their experiences travelling in Egypt as LGBTQ travellers in the past.

“I’ve met gay tourists on my trip to Egypt in a few group tours, and they unfortunately had to be really careful about hiding the fact that they were gay. Just seems like a less-than-great idea to go to an anti-lgbt country on an openly lgbt activity. Hopefully, one day the attitude there will shift to being tolerant of the LGBT, as the Middle East and northern African regions are beautiful.”

Richie Vee added that he’d also had positive experiences travelling in the region: “Thousands of LGBTQ+ travellers visit Turkey every year without incident.

“Hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, and medical clinics generally serve LGBTQ+ visitors without issue.

“If you’re travelling to Istanbul for dental work or a hair transplant, you can generally expect professional treatment regardless of your sexual orientation.”

Jeff Savage said he would still encourage LGBTQ travellers to go to these areas if they’re interested, but felt that the presentation of the cruise made it a more complicated situation.

“I truly don’t think this had anything to do with LGBTQ+ people. I’ve been to Turkey and Egypt many times, and I’ve never once felt unsafe there. I genuinely wish people would stop bashing these Muslim countries. Their people are incredibly kind, and their countries are beautiful.

“In my experience, they are not out there conducting some kind of witch hunt against gay people. People generally leave you alone and do not care about your private life, as long as you respect the country’s laws, customs, and cultural expectations and do not openly display behaviour that is considered inappropriate there.

“Personally, I think this had more to do with the image, atmosphere, and debauchery associated with that particular cruise than with LGBTQ+ people themselves.”

On the other hand, Reddit User AgreeableEvent4748 said he’d rather encourage people to try alternative destinations.

“What next, gay cruise to Iran? What are people thinking? Let’s not spend our money in countries that hate us. I don’t travel to Jamaica for the same reason.

“Go see the pyramids in Mexico. They love us there. Go see the ancient Greek ruins in Greece. They love us there, too. Get a hair transplant in your home country – you really don’t have to go to Turkey. But if you really want to go to these places, maybe at least make it a little easier for yourself and don’t ride a Pride float to the border.”

AnswerGuy301 on Reddit said he’d travelled to Türkiye before, but wouldn’t do it now due to the changing political situation.

“I’ve been to Türkiye willingly. Istanbul is a lovely city with so much history and charm and great food and ice people. It’s a little different as an individual than as a throng of 3,000 gay men trying to party it up.

“That said, with the political situation the way it is now I don’t think I’d go there.”

Weary-Beat-7043 also added that they’d rather travel to safe LGBTQ destinations.

“I’m not going where I’m not wanted. I’ll spend my money on a place that accepts me. I think it’s good the cruises were barred because there’s no telling what would have happened to any of those passengers.”

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