Bahamas cruises impacted by temporary ban on alcohol sales
If you're taking a cruise to The Bahamas in the coming week, you may want to check whether your time in a Bahamas port of call lines up with an upcoming ban on alcohol sales during the country's General Elections.
Many cruise passengers visiting The Bahamas on April 30 were surprised to find out that they couldn't purchase alcoholic beverages in some Bahamas ports all day due to advance polling happening for the country's upcoming elections.
According to Bahamas law, the sale of any intoxicating liquour is prohibited during election hours, which includes both the Advanced Poll on April 30 and General Elections happening in May this year.
Want the latest cruise news and deals? Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter.
Elections shut down alcohol service at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island
It seems that the alcohol sales ban on April 30 took Royal Caribbean by surprise at its new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, which passengers can visit as a shore excursion in Nassau. Royal Caribbean offers two all-inclusive day pass options for the beach club, including one offering unlimited open bar, which the cruise line still sold for the April 30 date when Allure of the Seas visited Nassau.
According to passenger posts on Reddit, Royal Caribbean failed to notify passengers of the alcohol sales ban in advance of their visit to Nassau. That led to major disappointment for passengers who had purchased Royal Beach Club Paradise Island day passes with unlimited open bar.
Related: What happens when you buy liquor in port on your cruise?
As a result of the inconvenience, Royal Caribbean refunded affected passengers for their Royal Beach Club experience in the form of an onboard credit, according to Royal Caribbean Blog, a fan blog not affiliated with the cruise line.
With the country's General Elections coming up soon, those cruising to The Bahamas should note that Royal Beach Club Paradise Island and other Bahamas businesses will again be unable to serve alcohol to cruise passengers on an upcoming date.
Another ban on alcohol sales in The Bahamas set for May 12
The Bahamas General Elections will be held on May 12 from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., meaning that another alcohol sales ban will impact more cruise passengers that day.
Cruise ships scheduled to visit Nassau on May 12 include MSC Cruises' MSC Seaside, Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas, and Princess Cruises' Caribbean Princess. Utopia of the Seas passengers will still be able to visit Royal Beach Club Paradise Island on May 12, but will again be unable to enjoy unlimited open bar on that date.
Royal Caribbean passengers reported in a Reddit discussion that the alcohol sales ban on April 30 did not impact Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas - likely because it's a private island where polling doesn't occur.
Related: MSC Cruises opens bookings for cruises to new luxury private island
In addition to Nassau, the alcohol sales ban will apply to Grand Bahama, another Bahamas island that cruise ships visit. Although no ships are scheduled to visit Grand Bahama's Freeport cruise port on May 12, two Carnival cruise ships - Carnival Glory and Carnival Freedom - will visit Carnival's Celebration Key destination, which is located in another part of Grand Bahama.
Like Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, Celebration Key isn't located on a private island, which means that Carnival likely won't be able to sell alcohol at Celebration Key on May 12 either.
(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.)
Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 1:46 PM.