Story perspectives

Bahamas Halts Alcohol Sales During Election Day Voting

5/10/2026

46 8

Summary

Bahamas Bans Alcohol

The Bahamas will ban alcohol sales during general-election voting hours on Tuesday, May 12 2026.
Licenses at bars, resorts and cruise-terminal venues will be suspended from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line will halt alcohol sales at their islands on May 12 2026.
Onboard ship bars will stay open while the vessels are docked.
Analysts say the one-day restriction should not harm the Bahamas’ cruise-tourism reputation.

Summary

Bahamas Alcohol Ban

Royal Caribbean will refund 100% onboard credit for premium open-bar passes on the April 30 and May 12 sailings.
About 750 Royal Caribbean staff living on CocoCay can vote in the Bahamian election.
Norwegian shifted its Great Stirrup Cay stop to May 13.
Carnival Vista rerouted to Grand Turk to avoid the ban.
Passengers posted on X that they received the ban notice only two days before departure, disrupting celebrations.

Summary

Bahamas Suspends Alcohol

The Parliamentary Commissioner authorized suspending intoxicating liquor sales at Bahamian cruise ports while polls are open on May 12, 2026.
The ban began as Oasis of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas docked at CocoCay on May 12, 2026.
Bartenders and waitstaff at the ports said they were “bummed” by the temporary restriction.
Travelers on Facebook claimed the ban “sucked the life out” of their visit to Royal Beach Club Paradise Island.

History

Historical Context

In August 1994, Mexico’s new Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) oversaw the first election with a nationwide ban on alcohol sales that curbed vote-buying, while the PRI accounted for 78.3% of campaign spending. On 12 May 2026 the Bahamas suspended liquor sales at CocoCay, Grand Turk and cruise-ship ports, affecting Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Disney, showing a Caribbean move toward temporary bans for electoral integrity.

1 of 4

Bahamas Bans Alcohol

The Bahamas will ban alcohol sales during general-election voting hours on Tuesday, May 12 2026.
Licenses at bars, resorts and cruise-terminal venues will be suspended from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line will halt alcohol sales at their islands on May 12 2026.
Onboard ship bars will stay open while the vessels are docked.
Analysts say the one-day restriction should not harm the Bahamas’ cruise-tourism reputation.

1 / 4