Greg Morley and other LGBTQ+ travelers on the Scarlet Lady cruise ship were turned away from Turkey and Egypt due to moral concerns.

Greg Morley, a 59-year-old traveler from Philadelphia, experienced a significant detour during a recent "Athens to Venice" voyage when the Scarlet Lady cruise ship was denied entry to both Turkey and Egypt. The vessel, which hosts over 1,900 passengers, was first blocked by Turkish authorities who cited the group's behaviors as incompatible with the nation's moral values. Following a quick diversion to Cairo, the Egyptian government also refused the ship clearance at the last minute. Rich Campbell, the president and CEO of Atlantis Events, described the decisions as "outrageous" and "stunning," noting that the company had successfully sailed similar itineraries in the past. While the administration declined to publicly condemn the incidents, the bans highlight a global trend of conservative governments rolling back LGBTQ+ rights. Morley noted that the turnarounds serve as a reminder of the discrimination faced by minorities in these regions. The ship was ultimately rerouted to the Greek island of Crete, where it will dock on Friday.

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