A 35-year-old Spanish passenger was removed from Scarlet Lady after being arrested by Greek authorities on alleged drug-related offences during the vessel's call at Souda, Crete Island, Greece.
The incident occurred while the Virgin Voyages ship was operating an Atlantis Events (full-ship) charter cruise, which has already attracted international attention following itinerary changes caused by the denial of port calls in Turkey and Egypt.
According to Greek media reports, the passenger came to the attention of the ship's security personnel after allegedly being found in possession of and distributing narcotics on board. The ship's security team subsequently notified the Chania Port Authority before the vessel arrived in Souda.
Following the ship's arrival, officers of the Hellenic Coast Guard searched and reportedly recovered small quantities of cocaine together with cannabis. The man was taken into custody on suspicion of breaching Greek drug legislation but was later released after the public prosecutor issued a verbal order, according to local reports.
Although released by the authorities, the passenger was not permitted to rejoin the voyage. Reports indicate that the cruise operator denied re-embarkation, leaving the individual ashore in Greece while Scarlet Lady continued its itinerary.
Neither Virgin Voyages nor Atlantis Events had issued a public statement regarding the incident at the time of reporting.
The arrest represents a further development during a charter voyage that has faced a series of operational disruptions. Earlier in the cruise, Turkish authorities refused permission for the vessel to call at its scheduled ports, citing concerns about public morality, while Egyptian authorities subsequently denied entry to Alexandria, necessitating further itinerary revisions. As a result, Scarlet Lady made an unscheduled call at Souda, in place of the cancelled port visits.
For more Scarlet Lady incidents and accidents, see the ship's CruiseMinus page