A long-planned LGBT cruise has been blocked from stopping in Turkey

Officials in Turkey are prohibiting an all-gay cruise from spending multiple days in the country next week during a voyage from Athens to Venice, according to the company organizing the trip.

Turkish government and tourism representatives did not respond to inquiries from the Washington Post on Friday. Virgin Voyages, which owns the ship, also could not immediately be reached.

But Sunday, the official X account for the provincial government that includes the port city of Kusadasi posted a news release stating that the July 7 call of a chartered cruise ship had been canceled. The post said groups on the ship were “known for their behavior incompatible with our society’s structure and moral values,” according to an English translation.

The 10-night Mediterranean sailing aboard Scarlet Lady will depart from Athens on Sunday and include other ports.

Broadway star Patti LuPone, who is performing on the cruise, shared her outrage on social media.

“A ship — a magnificent ship — full of well-heeled gay men. And me. Denied entry to Turkey simply because of who is on board,” she wrote on Facebook. “I am ready to perform for all the wonderful men on this Atlantis cruise, who deserve so much better than this.”

The cruise has been planned for more than a year, said Rich Campbell, CEO of trip organizer Atlantis Events. He said he first got word a week ago that there might be an issue.

On Saturday, he said, the port agency — which serves as the connection between cruise lines and authorities where they dock — sent a letter to the cruise line telling them the port calls would be denied by the government.

Campbell said he was sure there was a mistake. The Los Angeles-based company, which charters large ships for LGBT experiences, has brought travelers to Turkey more than a dozen times over 20-plus years, including last year, and had “a fantastic tourist experience.”

“We’re there to shop, be great tourists, spend money,” he said. “It’s always a culturally respectful group.”

Campbell said that despite multiple efforts to stick to the original itinerary, including assistance from the U.S. Embassy, he learned Thursday that the decision would not change.

The U.S. State Department declined to comment on the case, directing questions to the company, but said in a statement that the U.S. Embassy in Ankara “regularly promotes U.S. business and commercial interests” in the country.

Atlantis sent a notice about the change to passengers Thursday, informing them that the new itinerary would include a full day in Alexandria in Egypt and a stop in Crete.

“Despite exhaustive efforts on our part to reverse this decision, our calls to Istanbul and Kusadasi have been canceled by the Turkish Authorities,” the message to passengers said. “We know that this change is disappointing and truly wish that we could have kept our visits to Turkey as planned. … They have always been a highlight of our voyages, and we look forward to returning soon.”

Campbell said he believes Turkey will lose at least $1 million in revenue by blocking the passengers from spending three days in the country.

“The bigger damage to Turkey is when you start picking and choosing who’s allowed to enter, and your economy depends on tourism, you’re creating a standoff between tourists and yourself,” he said. “And you run the risk of alienating a lot of potential tourists.”

While same-sex relationships are not illegal in Turkey, top leaders have expressed antigay sentiment. A Pride march in Istanbul has been banned for more than 10 years. Police detained dozens of people in recent days during a gay pride event that was held despite a ban, Agence France-Presse reported.

Campbell said there has not been a threat to travelers on his company’s cruises. And he doesn’t believe Turkey is hostile to gay tourists, even considering the recent action.

“I think it’s a bad call, but unfortunately it has the potential for long-term repercussions,” he said.