Bahamas Imposes Alcohol Ban on Election Day, Stranding Cruise Passengers

The Bahamas will suspend alcohol sales next week as the country holds elections on Tuesday, May 12.

A government notice says the ban will run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. that day. The Parliamentary Commissioner is halting sales of intoxicating liquor while polls stay open.

"Any person selling or exposing or offering for sale any intoxicating liquor during such hours shall be deemed to be so doing while not holding a license under the provisions of the Business License Act," the notice warns.

The restriction applies to all Bahamian islands, including private islands run by cruise companies.

Royal Caribbean confirmed to People magazine that the ban covers its private island, CocoCay. Two of its ships, Oasis of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas, will visit CocoCay that day.

Alcohol sales will continue aboard ships during the shore ban, a Royal Caribbean official said. Guests on cruise ships calling at Bahamian ports May 12 cannot buy alcohol on land.

"Royal Caribbean is respecting and complying with all local laws and regulations, as we do with every destination we visit," a company spokesperson said.

One customer vented on X that she would be in the Bahamas on a special trip with her husband. "We scheduled a trip with stops in the Bahamas for our 40th anniversary," she wrote. "We are going with 26 of our friends. Planned activities at CocoCay and Nassau."

The X user added, "The general election has banned all alcohol for the two days we are there. And we find out only two days before we leave? Not a way to treat customers who cruise four times a year."

She said she would have picked a different itinerary to celebrate with her friends if she had known sooner.

A traveler in the Facebook group Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips & Updates 2026 wrote that a similar ban hit them on April 30 at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island. "This just happened to us on April 30th, and it really sucked the life out of our day visit to Royal Beach Club Paradise Island," the traveler said.

"The bartenders and waitstaff were standing around bummed also, and it was painful all around," the traveler added.

Fox News Digital reached out to Royal Caribbean for further comment.