The gay cruise that attracted international attention after being denied permission to dock in Turkey (Türkiye) has now also been refused entry to Egypt.

According to an update sent to passengers and obtained by Travel Weekly, Virgin Voyages‘ Scarlet Lady has been denied access to the port of Alexandria by the Egyptian authorities. The ship is now seeking an alternative destination, with charter operator Atlantis Events working to arrange another port of call.

Kyle Olsen, owner of Hermes Holidays, told Travel Weekly that several hundred Australians were among the passengers, making them the second-largest national group on board after Americans.

He said many passengers had already booked and paid for private excursions to visit attractions such as the Pyramids of Giza. Olsen added that Alexandria had been presented as the replacement destination after the cruise was barred from visiting Turkey, making the latest refusal particularly disappointing for travellers.

In a message to passengers, Atlantis Events said it was deeply disappointed that Scarlet Lady had been denied entry into Egyptian waters and would no longer be able to call at Alexandria. The company said it was working urgently to secure an alternative port while informing passengers of the unexpected change as soon as possible.

LGBTQIA+ rights in Egypt

The refusal to allow the Scarlet Lady to call at Alexandria also highlights the difficult reality for LGBTQIA+ people in Egypt. While same-sex sexual activity is not explicitly criminalised under Egyptian law, authorities routinely use broadly worded legislation on “debauchery”, “prostitution”, “public morality” and “public indecency” to arrest and prosecute people suspected of being gay or transgender.

Human rights organisations have documented repeated crackdowns over the past two decades, with police carrying out arrests through dating apps, online surveillance and raids on private venues. Several high-profile cases have drawn international condemnation, including the arrests that followed the display of a rainbow flag during a concert by Lebanese band Mashrou’ Leila in Cairo in 2017. Since then, public expressions of LGBTQIA+ identity have become even more risky.

There are no legal protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, no recognition of same-sex relationships, and no legal framework allowing transgender people to change their gender without significant legal and medical hurdles. LGBTQIA+ organisations cannot operate openly, while independent human rights groups have repeatedly reported intimidation, censorship and arbitrary detention.

What this means for LGBTQIA+ travellers

Despite the legal and political climate, Egypt remains one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. Millions of international visitors travel every year to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, the Red Sea resorts and the Nile Valley without incident, including LGBTQIA+ travellers.

However, travel advice from LGBTQIA+ organisations generally recommends discretion. Public displays of affection between same-sex couples should be avoided, and travellers are advised not to assume that attitudes found in European or North American tourist destinations apply in Egypt. Dating apps have reportedly been used by law enforcement to identify and arrest suspected LGBTQIA+ people, making their use particularly risky.

International hotel chains and tourist resorts generally focus on welcoming foreign visitors regardless of their sexual orientation, and problems involving foreign tourists remain relatively uncommon. Nevertheless, LGBTQIA+ visitors are advised to keep a low profile, avoid discussing their sexuality with strangers, and refrain from participating in any form of LGBTQIA+ activism while in the country.

Against this backdrop, Egypt’s decision to deny entry to a cruise specifically chartered for LGBTQIA+ passengers has been interpreted by many observers as consistent with the country’s increasingly restrictive approach towards LGBTQIA+ visibility, rather than an isolated decision affecting a single voyage.

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