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To boycott Turkey and Egypt after homophobic action against cruise ship?

208 replies

Holdonforsummer · 09/07/2026 16:48

Now Egypt has turned away a cruise ship full of LGBT passengers, following in the footsteps of Turkey who had already barred them from docking. Egyptian authorities haven’t stated an official reason but Turkey clearly stated it was because the passengers on the ship didn’t confirm to their society’s ‘moral’ standards. I find this disgusting and outrageous that any country thinks they can start to pick and choose which categories of tourists they will and won’t accept. I for one will now boycott Turkey and Egypt and will not book holidays there in the future. I refuse to support homophobic regimes and feel that the only thing that might change their mind is if many other UK citizens do the same.

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/09/lgbtq-cruise-ship-refused-entry-egypt-turkey?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

OP posts:
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eskimoomikse · 15/07/2026 20:24

I went on a crise to antarctica and it was really fucking cold.

Valeriekat · 13/07/2026 22:13

Isn't the cruise for gay men? No L or T!

blubberyboo · 11/07/2026 21:35

Jane379 · 10/07/2026 01:11

I think that's unfair, OP probably disapproves of Egyptian misogyny too.

I agree the cruise people were stupid but it should be remembered Egyptian homophobia most of all affects gay people there, not tourists, including plenty who aren't powerful.

Edited

I’ll remind you then that OP only decided to boycott the country when a gay cruise came to town

DdraigGoch · 10/07/2026 13:33

Has it only just occurred to you what these countries were like?

Saltysweetspicy · 10/07/2026 13:29

nomas · 10/07/2026 13:06

How are they questioned? And how do you begin to police people's thoughts?

You've lost me. When you say how are they questioned, do you mean, what questions are they asked? If so, I have no idea, I don't work in immigration. But I do think it's reasonable to ask those deeper questions (when we are processing immigrants/illegal immigrants, in which case, that is a bit like a questionnaire as they are interviewed etc) to find out about whether their values and ideals are compatible with living in our society. We already make judgments about people in the immigration process, don't we?? Based on many things. Every country does, just some more strictly than others.

Yes. Fair enough some of them would lie, and of course it would be far more difficult than a cruise of LGBT turning up who are so open and comfortable with who they are and their values, so you know their ideals off the bat, but it would be a place to start. It would never be fool proof.

This is one example. I don't like that we welcome families into the country where the women are treated so badly, for example. We should not support that (IMO) women being second class citizens in our country. It doesn't align with what we have fought for (and still are fighting for in some ways!) so eg if someone believes women should have fewer rights or rejects equality under UK law, our law, I don't think that's something we should just ignore because we're afraid of being called discriminatory.

Do you think considering whether an immigrant/illegal immigrant is likely to uphold the same values/rules/laws that everyone living here is expected to follow is a bad thing?

nomas · 10/07/2026 13:06

Saltysweetspicy · 10/07/2026 13:02

Like how they are questioned when they are immigrating here?

How are they questioned? And how do you begin to police people's thoughts?

Saltysweetspicy · 10/07/2026 13:02

nomas · 10/07/2026 12:57

How would you judge their values? Would they take a questionnaire?

Like how they are questioned when they are immigrating here?

nomas · 10/07/2026 12:57

Saltysweetspicy · 10/07/2026 12:53

Turn away people whose values don't align with ours. You say how, well we can't without being all types of 'ists' or 'phobics' hence why it would never happen. But I wish it could.

How would you judge their values? Would they take a questionnaire?

Saltysweetspicy · 10/07/2026 12:53

nomas · 10/07/2026 12:44

What is this supposed to mean? Who do you want to target and how?

Turn away people whose values don't align with ours. You say how, well we can't without being all types of 'ists' or 'phobics' hence why it would never happen. But I wish it could.

nomas · 10/07/2026 12:44

Saltysweetspicy · 10/07/2026 12:41

"I wish we had the balls to act the way they do"

This was said upthread, and yep, I agree. I think we are far, far too accommodating.

What is this supposed to mean? Who do you want to target and how?

Saltysweetspicy · 10/07/2026 12:41

"I wish we had the balls to act the way they do"

This was said upthread, and yep, I agree. I think we are far, far too accommodating.

SALaw · 10/07/2026 12:31

Every country can choose what type of people they want in their country. I disagree with the decision but then I disagree with a lot from those regimes which is why I would never go there in the first place, nor to somewhere like Dubai, which is extremely popular with many people including many gay people I know. Were you happy to go there prior to this incident? Presumably all the people on the cruise ship were also happy to go there until they were refused. Why?

Jasmin71 · 10/07/2026 12:28

P&O are clearly stupid!

Tauranga · 10/07/2026 12:09

Holdonforsummer · 09/07/2026 16:48

Now Egypt has turned away a cruise ship full of LGBT passengers, following in the footsteps of Turkey who had already barred them from docking. Egyptian authorities haven’t stated an official reason but Turkey clearly stated it was because the passengers on the ship didn’t confirm to their society’s ‘moral’ standards. I find this disgusting and outrageous that any country thinks they can start to pick and choose which categories of tourists they will and won’t accept. I for one will now boycott Turkey and Egypt and will not book holidays there in the future. I refuse to support homophobic regimes and feel that the only thing that might change their mind is if many other UK citizens do the same.

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/09/lgbtq-cruise-ship-refused-entry-egypt-turkey?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

This attitude is horrific and it is being imported into our country. Islam hates gay people.
"Queers for Palestine" anyone?

SemperIdem · 10/07/2026 12:06

Friendlygingercat · 10/07/2026 00:28

We in the west arrogantly assume that democracy is the only fair system of government. It promotes individuality as opposed to conformity. However not all countries agree with this and some are strongly patriarchal. Im thinking of middle eastern countries I have visited such as UEA, Egypt and Turkey. Who are we to say that their system is any better or worse than ours? If the culture of the country is against gay relationships then its very foolish of people in these groups to visit and openly reveal their sexuality.

This is a quite frankly, idiotic take.

ThisOliveKoala · 10/07/2026 11:53

Sirzy · 09/07/2026 17:47

I don’t agree with the decision obviously but you do have to question why such an itinerary was planned for the cruise when there are so many countries that wouldn’t bat an eyelid!

I’m with you, they could have gone to others but chose those. They follow Islam and should be allowed to choose what happens in their own country.

Weeellokthen · 10/07/2026 11:38

Persephonia1966 · 10/07/2026 10:17

It's a massive faff just to get a visa from sone countries. Not just countries with a security/terrorist issue. Paying for the visa application is 100s of pounds (you don't get the money back if turned down) and the in person appointments are outsourced to a private company so sometimes you have to travel to a country that that company operates from just for the interview. It costs loads and people can get turned down for no reason.
All of which the UK has a "right" to do. But it absolutely isn't just people on watchlists who struggle to get into the country at times.

I've never experienced that for a holiday though 😁

Moveoverdarlin · 10/07/2026 11:19

tilypu · 09/07/2026 17:58

I could offer to boycott - but it would be meaningless as I have no intention of going to either country. I have been to one, and I'm not interested in going to the other.

When were you planning your trips, op?

I feel the same way. Boycott them? Jesus you’d have to pay me to go to either.

Naunet · 10/07/2026 11:18

Blueskies3 · 10/07/2026 10:51

Oh gosh, my family member is on this cruise!

I think that it’s a disgrace that the cruise company have put them in this position, know the government/s wouldn’t approve. When was the last gay cruise with this itinerary? I’m sad. Human rights are going backwards

Presumably they knew the itinerary and knew these countries were homophobic, so why go?! Virigin were out of their minds scheduling this, but so are the guests for booking. Are people seriously this ignorant and think the whole world is like the west?

Wait until you hear about the Taliban OP.

Charys · 10/07/2026 11:14

Blueskies3 · 10/07/2026 11:06

No, I don’t want to or need to.

That’s handy for you. Make a sweeping statement and leave it there unexplained.

credibility was there none.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 10/07/2026 11:08

burnoutbabe · 10/07/2026 11:04

The virgin cruise line has been doing this itinerary.

ie mostly mid 50s people who may be straight or gay but are there for a nice holidays.

this charter is specifically run by someone else for gay men to have a good time.

I wonder why they thought they would be welcomed here.

Blueskies3 · 10/07/2026 11:06

Charys · 10/07/2026 11:03

Could you explain how human rights are going backwards, please?

No, I don’t want to or need to.

burnoutbabe · 10/07/2026 11:04

EmeraldShamrock000 · 10/07/2026 09:54

Back to the topic. Something must have happened with the last cruise as they have been doing the route for a while.

The virgin cruise line has been doing this itinerary.

ie mostly mid 50s people who may be straight or gay but are there for a nice holidays.

this charter is specifically run by someone else for gay men to have a good time.

Charys · 10/07/2026 11:03

Blueskies3 · 10/07/2026 10:51

Oh gosh, my family member is on this cruise!

I think that it’s a disgrace that the cruise company have put them in this position, know the government/s wouldn’t approve. When was the last gay cruise with this itinerary? I’m sad. Human rights are going backwards

Could you explain how human rights are going backwards, please?

TempestTost · 10/07/2026 10:58

RoseBlueuet · 09/07/2026 18:19

You had to shoehorn that in 🙄

OP, boycott whoever you want. Few care.

I wonder if it's relevant though.

There are a lot of "left" progressives now who are all over support for Palestine, like Queers for Palestine, and a very surprising number seem completely unaware that conservative Islamic culture doesn't feel the same way. Which is difficult to imagine but true.

Maybe it was ideas like this that led the cruise company to think this would be fine.