CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Passenger ticket revenues	$ 1,306,779us-gaap_PassengerRevenue	$ 1,348,203us-gaap_PassengerRevenue
Onboard and other revenues	508,820rcl_OnboardAndOther	539,021rcl_OnboardAndOther
Total revenues	1,815,599us-gaap_Revenues	1,887,224us-gaap_Revenues
Cruise operating expenses:
Commissions, transportation and other	324,418	325,865
Onboard and other	116,239rcl_CostOfOnboardAndOther	123,032rcl_CostOfOnboardAndOther
Payroll and related	211,591us-gaap_CostOfServicesDirectLabor	210,801us-gaap_CostOfServicesDirectLabor
Food	119,786us-gaap_FoodAndBeverageCostOfSales	118,080us-gaap_FoodAndBeverageCostOfSales
Fuel	205,276us-gaap_FuelCosts	244,459us-gaap_FuelCosts
Other operating	245,307us-gaap_OtherCostAndExpenseOperating	281,743us-gaap_OtherCostAndExpenseOperating
Total cruise operating expenses	1,222,617us-gaap_CostOfRevenue	1,303,980us-gaap_CostOfRevenue
Marketing, selling and administrative expenses	286,832	290,307
Depreciation and amortization expenses	200,468us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization	193,735us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
Restructuring charges	0us-gaap_RestructuringCharges	1,736us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
Operating Income	105,682us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	97,466us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Other income (expense):
Interest income	3,737us-gaap_InterestAndOtherIncome	3,276us-gaap_InterestAndOtherIncome
Interest expense, net of interest capitalized	(70,159)us-gaap_InterestExpense	(68,571)us-gaap_InterestExpense
Other income (expense)	5,970us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	(5,714)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense
Total other income (expense)	(60,452)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense	(71,009)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense
Net Income	45,230us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	26,457us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Earnings per Share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.21us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.12us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.12us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	219,626	221,295
Diluted (in shares)	220,842	222,671
Comprehensive Loss
Net Income	45,230us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	26,457us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(31,544)	2,470
Change in defined benefit plans	(1,493)	(2,031)
Loss on cash flow derivative hedges	(260,949)	(52,915)
Total other comprehensive loss	(293,986)	(52,476)
Comprehensive Loss	$ (248,756)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	$ (26,019)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax

Onboard and other expenses consist of the direct costs associated with onboard and other revenues. These costs include the cost of products sold onboard our ships, vacation protection insurance premiums, costs associated with pre- and post-cruise tours and related credit card fees. These costs also include minimal costs associated with concession revenues, as the costs are mostly incurred by third-party concessionaires.

No definition available.