Patti Lupone Slams Turkey's Ban on LGBTQ+ Cruise Ship Access
WHO:
US Magazine - Patti LuPone, 77, expressed her shock and fury on Instagram, stating she was scheduled to perform on the cruise.
USA Today - Rich Campbell, CEO of Atlantis Events, stated that the cruise was told on July 2 that the port calls "would have to be canceled."
Deadline - Patti LuPone expressed her shock and fury on Instagram, stating, "A ship − a magnificent ship − full of gay men. And me. Denied entry to Turkey simply because of who is on board."
Deadline - Patti LuPone, Broadway star, expressed her anger regarding Turkey's ban.
CNN - Rich Campbell, president and CEO of Atlantis Events, the company organizing the cruise.
CNN - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and his AK Party, which has adopted harsh rhetoric against the LGBTQ+ community.
WHAT:
CNN - The cruise is now described as an “Athens to Venice” cruise, which will stop in Cairo, Egypt, and the Greek island of Crete instead of Turkey.
USA Today - The ship was scheduled to dock in Kuşadası, Turkey on July 7 and spend the following two days in Istanbul during a Mediterranean tour.
CNN - Turkish authorities banned a cruise ship catering to American LGBTQ+ travelers from docking in Turkey's ports.
CNN - The cruise ship, named Scarlet Lady, was expected to host more than 1,000 passengers from the US.
CNN - The cruise itinerary was changed to stop in Cairo, Egypt, and the Greek island of Crete instead of Turkey.
CNN - Approximately 1,100 of the 1,900 expected guests on the voyage are from the United States.
WHERE:
CNN - The Turkish port town of Kuşadası and Istanbul were the intended docking locations for the cruise.
CNN - The port of Kuşadası is located in Turkey's Aydin province.
WHEN:
US Magazine - Patti LuPone was scheduled to perform from July 5.
CNN - The cruise is scheduled to depart from Greece on July 5 and was expected to dock in Kuşadası two days later.
WHY:
CNN - Turkish authorities cited the ship's group as being "known for behaviors incompatible with the fabric of our society and our moral values."
CNN - Turkish authorities cited “moral standards” and “family values” as reasons for the ban.
CNN - Local authorities stated the ship was chartered by groups “known for behaviors incompatible with the fabric of our society and our moral values.”
HOW:
CNN - Rich Campbell stated it was the first time in 36 years that the company has been “actively told we may not berth here because of who we are.”
USA Today - Campbell mentioned that despite extensive calls with the U.S. Embassy in Turkey, they were "not able to get the Turkish authorities to move" on the decision.
CNN - Turkish authorities announced the cancellation of the cruise's port calls, stating there was “absolutely no possibility” for the group to visit.
(UPDATED July 4, 2026 01:28 UTC)
Patti LuPone, at 77 years old, took to Instagram to express her shock and anger after learning that she would no longer be performing on a cruise scheduled to start on July 5. The cruise, originally set to include Turkey, will now take passengers from Athens to Venice, with stops in Cairo, Egypt, and the Greek island of Crete instead. This change comes after Turkish authorities labeled the ship's group as "known for behaviors incompatible with the fabric of our society and our moral values," marking the first time in 36 years that the cruise company has faced such restrictions.
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(UPDATED July 3, 2026 23:22 UTC)
Rich Campbell, CEO of Atlantis Events, announced that the cruise was informed on July 2 that its planned port calls would have to be canceled, including a scheduled stop in Kuşadası, Turkey on July 7. Patti LuPone expressed her shock and anger on Instagram, highlighting the situation by stating, "A ship − a magnificent ship − full of gay men. And me. Denied entry to Turkey simply because of who is on board." Despite extensive discussions with the U.S. Embassy in Turkey, Campbell noted they were unable to persuade the Turkish authorities to change their decision.
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(UPDATED July 3, 2026 15:43 UTC)
Turkish authorities have banned the cruise ship Scarlet Lady, which was set to host over 1,000 American LGBTQ+ travelers, from docking at ports in Turkey, including the popular destinations of Kuşadası and Istanbul. In response to the ban, Broadway star Patti LuPone expressed her anger, while Rich Campbell, president and CEO of Atlantis Events, the cruise's organizer, is now adjusting the itinerary to include stops in Cairo, Egypt, and the Greek island of Crete instead. Turkish officials cited “moral standards” and “family values” as reasons for the ban, stating that the ship was chartered by groups whose behaviors they deemed incompatible with their societal values.