Turkey blocks Virgin Voyages cruise from docking

Turkey blocks Virgin Voyages cruise from docking

A Virgin Voyages cruise organized by Atlantis Events was set to sail July 5, 2026, from Athens to Venice, with stops in Turkey, Greece, and Croatia. But Turkey has reportedly blocked the planned July 7 Kusadasi and July 8 Istanbul calls at the last minute, citing "moral standards" and "family values," and saying the ship was chartered by groups "known for behaviors incompatible with the fabric of our society and our moral values." Atlantis Events says this is the first time in 36 years it has been told it may not berth somewhere because of who the group is. The itinerary now swaps in Alexandria, Egypt, and Heraklion, Greece.

Gobble's Take: Nothing says “smooth vacation planning” like having two ports erased at the last minute and replaced with a side quest to keep the ship moving. Source: One Mile at a Time

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