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Scarlet Lady Rerouted to Crete After Turkey, Egypt Ban LGBTQ+ Cruise

Thursday, 9 July 2026/SourceGoogle News/1 min read
The cruise ship Scarlet Lady, operated by Virgin Voyages, made an unplanned stop in Crete after being denied entry by both Turkey and Egypt. The ship was carrying passengers on an LGBTQ+ themed cruise, and both countries refused to allow the vessel to dock at their ports. As a result, the itinerary was redirected and Crete became an emergency substitute destination for the voyage. For tourists and cruise passengers, this serves as a reminder that Crete regularly welcomes international cruise traffic and has the port infrastructure to accommodate large vessels on short notice. The island's main cruise port is located in Heraklion. Visitors arriving by cruise ship have easy access to the city center, the Archaeological Museum, and Knossos Palace. No disruption to regular ferry or flight connections is expected as a result of this diversion.

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