RSVP Cruise Diverted From Morocco

Company officials at the all-gay RSVP Vacations claim that they had to divert their ship from its planned stop in Morocco yesterday after they were refused the right to dock.

The cruise would reportedly have been the first of its kind to visit Morocco, where homosexuality is illegal. 2,100 gay holidaymakers aboard the cruise liner MS Nieuw Amsterdam were told the stop in western Morocco had unexpectedly been cancelled. Holland America Line and RSVP Vacations diverted the ship from the west African port on 1 July. According to Reuters, passengers on the ship received a letter saying: “Our port agent in Casablanca has advised us that authorities in Morocco have – despite previous confirmations – now denied our scheduled visit.”

Morocco's tourism minister denied the cruise company's claim, saying, "We don’t ban cruise ships here and we never ask our visitors about their sexual preferences."