Turkish authorities cancel cruise ship port calls over passenger group

Turkish authorities canceled planned port calls for a cruise ship scheduled to carry more than 1,000 American passengers, citing moral standards and family values. The "Athens to Venice" voyage was set to stop in Kusadasi on July 7 and later in Istanbul. Officials in Aydin province stated there was "absolutely no possibility" of the group visiting for an event of this nature.

Itinerary changes The company organizing the trip said the vessel will now stop in Cairo, Egypt, and the Greek island of Crete instead. It notified passengers on Thursday that the Turkish stops had been removed from the schedule. Officials in Istanbul reported that police raided a bar after an Atlantis brochure listed a party there.

The company stated the brochure was not produced or distributed by its organization.

CEO of the events company said this was the first time in 36 years the firm had been told it could not berth because of the identity of its passengers. He added that the group planned only to spend money, take tours, and remain respectful of local cultures.

Approximately 1,100 of the 1,900 expected guests are from the United States, with the remainder from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and other countries. CNN has contacted Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Turkish embassy in Washington, and the cruise line for comment.