The Bahamas will impose a nationwide alcohol ban on May 12, 2026, and the restriction reaches cruise ships calling at the islands, forcing some lines to redraw sailings while others stay the course. The move comes as the country votes in a general election, putting a routine part of Caribbean cruising — the beachside drink package — on hold for at least a day.
Norwegian Cruise Line has already changed the itinerary for the Norwegian Getaway, a 4-night Bahamas sailing leaving Miami on May 11, 2026, by pushing its private island visit back to May 13 and removing a call from Great Stirrup. Carnival has also shifted one sailing, replacing a stop at Half Moon with Grand Turk. Doug Parker said some operators were moving quickly to avoid the restriction, noting that NCL dropped Great Stirrup and Carnival moved from Half Moon to Grand Turk on one trip.
Royal Caribbean, meanwhile, is keeping its Perfect Day at CocoCay itinerary intact and said it will not make any modifications because of the ban. The company told guests on the Wonder of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas that alcohol will not be served during the restriction and that passengers who bought drink packages will be compensated. It also said guests will still have full access to amenities at Perfect Day at CocoCay, even as the company acknowledged that the restriction applies nationwide throughout The Bahamas.
The ban is more than a one-day inconvenience for cruise operators. It touches private-island stops, beverage sales and prepaid packages that are built into the economics of many sailings, which is why some lines are changing ports while others are simply warning passengers to expect no alcohol service during the blackout. Disney Cruise Line is also not making itinerary modifications, underscoring how differently the major brands are responding to the same election-day rule.
What happens next is straightforward: on May 12, the law takes effect across The Bahamas, and cruise passengers arriving that day will find a countrywide dry spell enforced from ship to shore. For travelers who booked around a beach day and a drink package, the election has turned into the part of the trip that will be remembered.
