The Bahamas will suspend alcohol sales on Tuesday, May 12, while voters head to the polls, shutting off liquor sales from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. across the country, including on private islands used by cruise companies.
That means guests on cruise ships visiting Bahamian ports that day cannot buy alcohol on shore, even if their stop is at a cruise-owned island. Royal Caribbean confirmed the restriction applies to CocoCay, its private island in the Bahamas, where two ships — Oasis of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas — are scheduled to visit that day.
The government notice obtained by Digital said the Parliamentary Commissioner is suspending sales of intoxicating liquor while polls remain open. The ban is tied to national elections and applies to all Bahamian islands, not just the main ports that usually draw visitors.
Royal Caribbean said it is respecting and complying with all local laws and regulations, adding that alcohol will continue to be sold aboard ships while the shore-side ban is in place. That distinction matters for cruise passengers because the restriction does not reach the vessels themselves, only purchases made on land.
The timing has already frustrated some travelers. One customer wrote on X that she would be in the Bahamas on a special trip with her husband and felt she learned about the restriction too late. For cruise lines and passengers alike, the rule is straightforward: drinks can still be bought at sea on May 12, but not once the ship’s guests step ashore in the Bahamas.
