Update: A revised schedule has now been shared from onboard Scarlet Lady following the canceled Alexandria call. The updated itinerary removes both Turkish port calls and the planned Cairo/Alexandria replacement, moves Santorini earlier in the voyage, adds Chania/Souda Bay in Crete and Kotor in Montenegro, and keeps Dubrovnik and Zadar later in the sailing before Scarlet Lady arrives in Trieste on 15 July 2026.

Sailors onboard Scarlet Lady’s Atlantis Events charter have been told that the ship has been denied entry to Egyptian waters, meaning the planned replacement call in Alexandria, Egypt, can no longer go ahead.

The update was sent to sailors through the Virgin Voyages app shortly before the ship was due to arrive in Alexandria on 8 July 2026. The in-app message, seen by VV Insider, states that Scarlet Lady “has just been denied entry into Egyptian waters and will no longer be able to call in Alexandria.”

We’re incredibly disappointed to share that Scarlet Lady has just been denied entry into Egyptian waters and will no longer be able to call in Alexandria. We’re working hard to secure an alternative port. Rich from Atlantis Events and Captain Bram will share more details later this morning, but we wanted to let you know as soon as we received this unfortunate news. – Onboard App Message

The message also says Virgin Voyages and Atlantis Events are “working hard to secure an alternative port,” with Rich Campbell from Atlantis Events and Captain Bram expected to share more details with sailors later this morning.

Second Major Itinerary Disruption For Atlantis Charter

The development follows an earlier decision by Turkish authorities to block the same Atlantis Events charter from calling at Kuşadası and Istanbul. Those Turkish port calls had originally formed part of the 10-night Athens to Venice charter aboard Scarlet Lady, which departed Athens on 5 July 2026.

Turkey’s decision was widely reported after officials cited “moral standards” and “family values” in relation to the LGBTQ+ charter. Atlantis Events later confirmed that Cairo, Egypt, and Crete, Greece, would replace the canceled Turkish port calls.

You can read our earlier coverage here: Virgin Voyages Charter Denied Entry To Turkish Ports.

Alexandria Replacement Call No Longer Possible

The planned Egypt call was intended to give sailors access to Cairo and some of Egypt’s major historical sites after the Turkish ports were removed. However, according to the onboard app alert, Scarlet Lady has now also been denied entry into Egyptian waters.

At this stage, VV Insider has not seen an official explanation from Egyptian authorities, Virgin Voyages, or Atlantis Events for why the Alexandria call has been blocked. The app alert does not give a reason for the denial.

Because of this, the cause should be treated as unconfirmed. Given the context of the earlier Turkish decision and Egypt’s documented treatment of LGBTQ+ people under public morality and “debauchery” laws, it is reasonable to ask whether the identity of the charter group may have been a factor. However, there is currently no substantiated evidence confirming that Egypt’s decision was made on that basis.

Revised Itinerary Now Shared Onboard

A revised schedule has now been shared with sailors onboard Scarlet Lady, showing how the remainder of the voyage is expected to continue after the missed Alexandria call.

The updated schedule keeps Santorini in the itinerary, but moves the call to 10 July. Two sea days then follow before Scarlet Lady is scheduled to call at Chania, also listed as Souda Bay, in Crete. The ship is then due to continue to Kotor, Dubrovnik and Zadar before arriving in Trieste on 15 July.

The original itinerary is shown below alongside the latest revised schedule shared onboard. Some timing and date details may continue to change, so sailors should continue to rely on onboard announcements and the Virgin Voyages app for final operational details.

The updated schedule appears to preserve several Adriatic calls later in the voyage, while removing the previously planned Turkey calls and the replacement Egypt call. A sailor onboard told VV Insider that a revised schedule had been announced and that passengers appeared broadly happy with the alternative, despite the last-minute nature of the disruption.

What Happens Next For Sailors?

Virgin Voyages and Atlantis Events have now shared a revised plan for the remainder of the voyage, although operational details may still change while the ship continues through the Mediterranean.

Sailors onboard should continue to check the Virgin Voyages app and onboard announcements for the latest confirmed information. Any replacement port details, further timing changes, additional sea days, or compensation arrangements will need to be confirmed directly by Virgin Voyages or Atlantis Events.

VV Insider will keep a close eye on developments and will report updates through our social channels as more information becomes available.

Could This Affect Future Egypt Itineraries?

Virgin Voyages currently has a 2027 Athens roundtrip itinerary listed as Greek Isles, Turkey & Cairo Overnight aboard Scarlet Lady, scheduled to depart on 10 June 2027. That published itinerary includes an overnight call in Alexandria, Egypt, with the port used as the gateway for Cairo.

It is too early to say whether this latest denial will have any impact on that 2027 sailing or on any other future Egypt calls. Cruise port access decisions can depend on the ship, charter status, guest profile, local permissions, security considerations, and wider diplomatic or operational factors.

Still, this second denial in the space of a few days will likely increase scrutiny around how reliably certain ports can be included in LGBTQ+ charter itineraries, and whether cruise lines may need stronger contingency planning for destinations where local authorities could object to the nature of a private sailing.

VV Insider Will Continue To Monitor Updates

Scarlet Lady’s revised schedule gives sailors more clarity after an unusually disruptive few days, but questions remain about why the Alexandria call was denied so close to arrival.

VV Insider will continue monitoring onboard updates, official statements, port changes and itinerary movements. We will share confirmed updates on our social channels as soon as reliable information becomes available.