May 12 is Bahamas National Heroes Day, a public holiday that triggers nationwide alcohol sale restrictions — including at Royal Caribbean's private island Perfect Day at CocoCay. Drinks from your beverage package are still served onboard the ship, but bars at CocoCay and in Nassau may be fully closed or restricted depending on the year's enforcement.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
May 12 is Bahamas National Heroes Day — and the Bahamas doesn't mess around with its public holiday alcohol laws. Every year, cruisers boarding ships headed to Nassau or CocoCay on or around this date get blindsided at the beach bar. Here's exactly what's happening, what it costs you, and how to protect your drink package investment.
What's Actually Happening: The Bahamas Liquor Law
The Bahamas Liquor Licence Act prohibits the sale of alcohol on public holidays. National Heroes Day falls on the second Monday of May — which lands on May 12, 2025. This isn't a rumor. It's codified law, and it applies to the entire Bahamian archipelago.
Here's the critical nuance that most cruise lines bury in fine print:
- Nassau port bars and restaurants: Almost certainly closed for alcohol sales
- CocoCay (Perfect Day): This is where it gets complicated. CocoCay is leased from the Bahamian government — it is technically Bahamian soil. Royal Caribbean has historically been subject to the same liquor restrictions as Nassau on Bahamian public holidays. In some years enforcement is applied; in others, RC has negotiated or worked around it. Do not assume your Deluxe Beverage Package works at CocoCay on May 12.
- Onboard the ship: Once you're back aboard and the ship is in international waters, the ship's bars operate normally. While docked, onboard bars typically remain open — but some lines restrict alcohol sales at port as a courtesy or legal precaution.
Bottom line: If your itinerary puts you in Nassau or at CocoCay on May 12, budget your bar expectations accordingly. Plan on drinking onboard.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
What This Costs You: Drink Package Math
If you've prepaid a Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package, here's the financial reality of losing a CocoCay beach day of drinking:
| Scenario | Daily Package Cost | Drinks Lost (Est.) | Effective Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-cruise Deluxe Package (RC) | ~$75–$95/person/day | 6–8 beach drinks | $65–$110+ value |
| Individual drinks at CocoCay | ~$13–$16/cocktail + 20% gratuity | N/A — unavailable | $0 savings, $0 drinks |
| Onboard ship bars (docked) | Package applies (usually) | No loss if you board early | Recoup value ship-side |
| Nassau bars on holiday | Closed | All missed | Full day loss ashore |
The math stings. If you paid $85/person for the Deluxe Beverage Package expecting a full beach bar day at CocoCay, and alcohol isn't served, you've lost meaningful value on one of the higher-drink-volume days of the itinerary.
Note: RC Deluxe Beverage Package prices are dynamic — pre-cruise rates typically range $65–$110/person/day. Check your Cruise Planner for exact pricing on your sailing.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Key Factors That Determine How Bad This Gets
1. Your ship's schedule matters If CocoCay is your only port on May 12 and you have a sea day before and after, the package hit is contained. If Nassau is also on May 12 — you're losing two back-to-back alcohol-available days ashore.
2. RC's enforcement history at CocoCay varies Some travelers report CocoCay serving alcohol on Bahamian holidays; others report it completely dry. Royal Caribbean's contractual arrangement with the Bahamian government for the CocoCay lease has evolved, but the legal risk to RC is real. Never book assuming CocoCay will be wet on a Bahamian holiday — you're gambling.
3. Itinerary rerouting is rare but possible If your cruise departs the same week and you're willing to ask, some travelers have had luck requesting itinerary clarification from Royal Caribbean guest services. They won't reroute for you, but knowing what to expect matters.
4. The onboard ship dynamic Most ships docked in Nassau or at CocoCay keep the ship's internal bars open — your package should work there. Head back to the ship early if you want your money's worth.
Practical Tips to Protect Yourself
Check the date of National Heroes Day for your exact sailing year. It's always the second Monday of May. In 2025 that's May 12. In 2026, that's May 11. If your CocoCay or Nassau call falls on that date, plan accordingly.
Don't prepay the drink package assuming full beach bar access. If your itinerary is heavy on CocoCay and Nassau, and one of those falls on a Bahamian holiday, reconsider the package math. With a beach day gone dry, your break-even goes up significantly — you'd need to hit 5–6 drinks/day on remaining days to justify it.
Front-load your drinking. Seriously. Day 1 (embarkation), sea days, and non-holiday port days are your best value windows for the package. Hammer the break-even on those days.
Call Royal Caribbean before sailing. Ask directly: "Will CocoCay bars be serving alcohol on [date]?" Get the answer in writing (email). Guest services reps have given inconsistent answers, but having documentation helps if you want to pursue a credit.
Consider skipping the package on Bahamas-heavy, short itineraries. A 3- or 4-night Bahamas sailing from Port Canaveral or Miami with one CocoCay day and one Nassau day loses enormous package value if either day is a Bahamian holiday. At $13.50/cocktail + 20% gratuity = ~$16.20 per drink, individual drinks on the remaining sea day may cost you less than a full package.
| Itinerary Type | Package Worth It? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 7-night with 4+ sea days | Yes | High-volume onboard days cover break-even |
| 3-night Bahamas (Nassau + CocoCay) with holiday | No | Too much value lost to port closures |
| 4-night with CocoCay on holiday | Maybe | Depends on your drinking pace on sea days |
| 7-night with Nassau on holiday only | Probably | One day loss, 6 others still deliver value |
Which Ships Are Most Affected
Royal Caribbean's Bahamas itineraries out of Port Canaveral, Miami, and Port Everglades are the highest risk — especially short sailings that lean on CocoCay and Nassau as primary ports. Ships like Wonder of the Seas, Icon of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, and Navigator of the Seas all run regular Bahamas loops.
If you're already booked and your CocoCay date is May 12, check whether you can use CruiseHub to compare alternate sailings that skip the holiday conflict: https://book.cruisehub.com/swift/cruise?referrer=dave&siid=191861
The Bahamas alcohol holiday isn't a new thing — but cruise lines do a masterful job of not advertising it at the point of sale. Know before you go.
Before you prepay a drink package on any Bahamas sailing, run your exact itinerary through CruiseMutiny to see whether the package math actually works for your specific ports, sea days, and travel dates.