Turkish authorities have denied docking permission to an LGBTQ+ cruise ship scheduled to visit Kusadası and Istanbul as part of its Mediterranean itinerary. The cruise, which began on July 5 in Athens, was planned to tour Greek islands and the Dalmatian coast before making stops in Turkey and concluding in Trieste near Venice on July 15.

Local officials in Turkey cited concerns that the cruise participants engaged in behaviors they deemed incompatible with the country’s social norms and moral values. The authorities announced the cancellation of the ship’s Turkish port calls, emphasizing that the decision was based on preserving societal standards.

The cruise was organized by Atlantis Events, a company specializing in LGBTQ+ travel experiences. Rich Campbell, the CEO of Atlantis Events, criticized the decision, describing it as detrimental for Turkey’s tourism sector. He expressed disappointment over the exclusion, underscoring that the country’s economy relies heavily on international visitors, and that singling out tourists on the basis of group affiliation or sexual orientation was regrettable.

The cruise was scheduled to spend two days in Istanbul following the initial stop in Kusadası before continuing to Italy. The denial of access represents a significant disruption to the itinerary and highlights ongoing tensions between LGBTQ+ communities and conservative social policies in Turkey.