Key Aspects:
- Alcohol sales will be forbidden during the Bahamas’ general election on May 12.
- Royal Caribbean has confirmed that alcohol will not be provided at Perfect Day at CocoCay on this date.
- The ban should also impact Royal Caribbean Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau.
As Cruise Hive previously reported, alcohol sales will be forbidden in the Bahamas on May 12, 2026, which is the date of the swiftly approaching general election.
This rule is enforced at all Bahamian destinations, including cruise line-owned private islands, to ensure that the polling process is conducted in an orderly fashion and that voting is taken seriously.
While some held onto false hope that Perfect Day at CocoCay might still be able to sell alcoholic beverages since it’s a private island just for cruise guests, Royal Caribbean has confirmed that this will definitely not be the case.
Both the 5,734-guest Wonder of the Seas and the 5,606-guest Oasis of the Seas will be visiting the private destination on election day.
“There is a public notice issued by the Ministry of National Security in The Bahamas that prohibits the distribution of alcohol during national elections,” Royal Caribbean wrote in a letter to impacted guests.
“We’ve explored whether any exceptions could be made; however, this restriction applies nationwide throughout the Bahamas. As a result, alcoholic beverages will not be served at Perfect Day at CocoCay during your visit,” the cruise line continued.
For reference, the private destination is located in the Bahamas in the Berry Islands, roughly 55 miles north of Nassau.
More than 750 Royal Caribbean staff members live on the island, many of whom are locals from the Bahamas who would be eligible to participate in the election.
Impact on Royal Beach Club, Paradise Island
As was the case during advanced polling on April 30, Royal Caribbean will likely also be prohibited from serving alcohol at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island.
The private resort only recently opened in Nassau in December of 2025. Admission starts at $129.99 for adults, with many of the packages including alcoholic refreshments as the price goes up.
On April 30, the cruise line actually came under fire for not providing advance notice of the temporary alcohol ban and was forced to refund hundreds, if not thousands, of guests who visited the beach club.
The cruise line claimed that it did not know about the restriction until the day of the visit. But either way, note that the cruise line is not repeating this blunder by giving guests more than a week of notice about the temporary alcohol ban on May 12.
“Earlier today, we were informed of a public notice issued by the Ministry of National Security in The Bahamas that prohibits the distribution of alcohol during national elections where advanced polling stations are located,” Royal Caribbean wrote in a letter on April 30.
“Taking this into account, and to better support your experience, you will receive a 100% refund for your Royal Beach Club experience in the form of Onboard Credit,” the cruise line continued.
For reference, the 5,668-guest Utopia of the Seas will be visiting Nassau on election day as part of a 4-night sailing to the Bahamas.
Alcohol is Still Available Onboard
Before cruisers panic, it’s important to keep in mind that the temporary ban will only last for one day and that alcoholic beverages will be available onboard Royal Caribbean ships the entire time.
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This is because the Bahamas’ restriction only applied to land-based establishments, such as bars, restaurants, and stores on shore.
“While these services will be impacted ashore, guests may continue to enjoy alcoholic beverages onboard, and our teams will be there to ensure you continue to enjoy a fun and relaxing experience,” Royal Caribbean confirmed.
Other than not serving alcohol, Royal Caribbean’s Bahamian destinations will operate normally. All other amenities, entertainment, and food will be provided as normal, including non-alcoholic beverages.
