A "Thirsty Day in Coco Cay?" Bahamas Bans Alcohol?!?
By Jeremy CamosseMay 2026
bahamas
coco cay
royal caribbean
cruise news
The Bahamas is banning alcohol sales on election day, May 12th. Here's what cruise passengers visiting CocoCay and other Bahamian ports need to know.
TL;DR
The Bahamas is banning alcohol sales on May 12th (8 a.m. – 6 p.m.) for election day. This includes private cruise islands like CocoCay. Your ship's bars remain open. Beaches remain open. You'll survive.
When picturing a "perfect day in Coco Cay," it includes a Goombay Smash or Kalik beer in hand. Passengers expecting frozen cocktails and cha-cha slide lubricant will be met with a disappointing reality.
On May 12th, the Bahamas government is prohibiting alcohol sales. This includes all the Bahamas Islands and even private islands like CocoCay, a massively popular cruise port owned by Royal Caribbean.
The cruise line confirmed it will be complying with the law, assumingly with reluctance.
Wait... Even CocoCay?
Yep.
The alcohol restriction applies across all Bahamian islands, including cruise line-owned private destinations like Perfect Day at CocoCay and Royal Beach Club Paradise Island. Royal Caribbean confirmed it will comply with the law, meaning no alcohol will be served ashore during the ban window.
Which Cruise Ships and Ports are Impacted?
The following ships are scheduled to visit Bahamian ports on May 12th and will be affected by the ban.
| Ship | Port |
|---|---|
| Margaritaville Paradise | Freeport |
| Carnival Sunshine | Bimini |
| Oasis of the Seas | Perfect Day at CocoCay |
| Wonder of the Seas | Perfect Day at CocoCay |
| Norwegian Getaway | Great Stirrup Cay |
| Disney Wish | Castaway Cay |
| MSC Seaside | Nassau |
| Utopia of the Seas | Nassau |
| Caribbean Princess | Nassau |
9 ships across 5 Bahamian ports affected on May 12th
Total cruise passengers in the Bahamas on 5/12
48,965
passengers impacted by the ban
View all cruise port traffic on our Cruise Port Schedule toolThe Timing Seems Almost Targeted Towards Cruise Passengers
The ban runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on election day while polls are open.
Unfortunately, that lines up perfectly (read "terribly") with the exact hours passengers will be at port.
But Why Though?
It's election day. The timing of the alcohol ban coincides with the timing that polls are open. The official purpose?
"To maintain public order and decorum during voting."
It's unclear why selling booze on election day might result in chaos. But hey, we're not Bahamian lawmakers.
The Internet Reacted Exactly How You'd Expect
Cruise Facebook groups and forums immediately spiraled into full vacation-crisis mode.
Some passengers complained the ban "sucked the life" out of the beach day, while others wondered whether they should receive onboard credit compensation for the lost drinking hours.
One traveler reportedly planned a 40th anniversary celebration with 26 friends and said they would've picked a different itinerary had they known sooner.
The Good News
Before we hold a mutiny at sea, let's take a deep breath and consider the following.
It's just one day!
And really only half a day. Maybe an 8-hour hiatus from the sauce mid-cruise will be beneficial in the long run.
Ship bars stay open
The ships themselves will still serve alcohol normally. Passengers will definitely get their steps in on May 12th, walking back and forth from ship to port!
Everything else is open
Beaches, pools, restaurants, and attractions remain open as normal. Just no booze.
It's not a new thing
This is actually a standard election-day policy in the Bahamas. Kudos to the cruise agents who foresaw this little hiccup when booking their clients months in advance!
Can Americans Really Judge?
Yes, this one-day alcohol ban is a bummer. But, can we really judge? Just imagine if Bahamians visited Ohio and learned it's illegal to get a fish drunk. Or Illinois where "happy hour" is illegal. Here are a few of the other ridiculous rules pertaining to alcohol in the United States.
AL
Alaska
Brewery taprooms can't offer entertainment like TVs, games, or dancing.
IN
Indiana
You can buy beer in grocery stores, but only warm — cold beer is restricted to liquor stores (to discourage immediate consumption).
NO
North Dakota
Coupons for alcohol purchases are banned. (Some bars also can't serve beer and pretzels together.)
LO
Louisiana
Drive-through daiquiri shops are legal; a sealed cup with a straw poked through is considered a "closed container."
The Bigger Picture for Cruise Travelers
This is one of those funny reminders that cruise itineraries don't exist in a magical floating vacation bubble. Ships visit real countries with real laws, elections, holidays, and customs.
Usually that means cultural festivals and local celebrations.
Occasionally it means your bartender has the day off. It's almost certain that they're bummed too given the drastic reduction in tips that's imminent.
Still, if your biggest vacation inconvenience is temporarily swapping a Bahama Mama for a Diet Coke while sitting on a white-sand beach in turquoise water... things are probably going okay.
Even if democracy just stole your mai tai.
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