An LGBTQ+ cruise ship faced denial at ports in both Turkey and Egypt over what authorities described as misalignment with local moral standards, according to reports from The Guardian.

The Scarlet Lady, chartered by Atlantis Events, was transporting about 2,000 passengers on a route from Athens to Venice when the initial disruption occurred.

Turkish officials prevented docking at Kusadasi, issuing a statement that the cruise was organized by groups whose behaviors conflict with societal structures and moral values, as noted in a CNN account.

The ship was redirected toward its backup port in Alexandria, Egypt, yet passengers received notes under their doors on Thursday morning indicating another urgent search for alternative stops, The Guardian reported.

Rich Campbell, CEO of Atlantis Events, informed passengers that Scarlet Lady had been denied entry to Egyptian waters and would skip Alexandria that day.

Surprised by this unfortunate decision, said Atlantis CEO

Campbell noted that the visit had held significance for many guests and that a similar itinerary had succeeded without issue the prior year, leaving the team surprised by the decision.

The announcement added that the news came as a surprise and that organizers shared the passengers disappointment.

Egypt provided no official explanation for its choice, The Guardian stated.

Campbell told CNN the situation was pretty stunning, especially since the reasoning centered on the group being gay.

He expressed concern that a nation would selectively admit or exclude tourists based on such criteria.

Although same-sex relations remain technically legal in both Turkey and Egypt, LGBT individuals have encountered rising discrimination and greater legal restrictions in practice.