Atlantis Events Scarlet Lady blocked in Egypt after the ship had already been barred from Turkey on the same 10-night Mediterranean cruise. Rich Campbell said the reversal came four hours before the ship was due to pick up the pilot and customs officers for Alexandria.
Campbell, the president and CEO of Atlantis Events, said the company had received full approval to arrive in Egypt. He said the ship was then told it would not be allowed into the harbor, leaving passengers on a rerouted itinerary that had already replaced Turkey stops with Alexandria and Crete.
Rich Campbell on Egypt approval
Campbell wrote to that Atlantis had been given full approval to arrive in Egypt before the decision changed. "We were given full approval to arrive (in) Egypt and just four hours before we picked up the pilot and customs officers we were told that the ship would not be allowed to enter the harbor" he said. "No explanation was given for this decision and we are very disappointed."
He also said the company has visited Egypt at least five times without an issue. "Last year, we brought 2,500 guests to Alexandria and the year before 1,200, both without incident," he said. The cruise departed on July 5 and was supposed to dock in Alexandria on July 9.
Turkey ban and reroute
The same cruise had already been turned away from Turkey after authorities in Turkey’s Aydın province said in late June that the ship’s visit had sparked significant public concern because of its link to groups they described as incompatible with their society’s structure and moral values. Atlantis then added Alexandria and the Greek island of Crete to the itinerary in place of several planned days in Turkey.
Patti LuPone added a public account of the first denial on July 3, writing on Instagram: "A ship – a magnificent ship – full of gay men. And me. Denied entry to Turkey simply because of who is on board". She added, "I am furious, but I am sailing, as the ship will make other ports of call."
Alexandria ports of call
The second denial left the cruise with a changed route after two separate port refusals on one voyage. Campbell’s account puts the immediate question on the harbor decision itself, since Egypt had been cleared before the reversal came four hours before arrival.
Egyptian port authorities did not immediately respond, so the reason for the denial was not addressed in the available announcement. For passengers on the 10-night sailing, the practical result was a cruise that kept moving, but with one more planned stop removed before the ship reached port.
