Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 12
-Section 13
-Sentence Column B

+ Details

Name:	invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	invest_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the maximum borrowing which the company has arranged for each ship constructed.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcl_UnsecuredTermLoanMaximumBorrowingCommintmentPerShip
Namespace Prefix:	rcl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the interest rate derivative.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeBasisSpreadOnVariableRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fixed interest rate related to the interest rate derivative.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFixedInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Variable interest rate in effect as of the balance sheet date related to the interest rate derivative.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeVariableInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestRateCashFlowHedgesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestRateFairValueHedgesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The interest rate applicable to the portion of the carrying amount of long-term borrowings outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including current maturities, which accrues interest at a set, unchanging rate.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtPercentageBearingFixedInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis=us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis=us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=rcl_OasisoftheSeasUnsecuredTermLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=rcl_FixedRate5.25PercentDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=rcl_FloatingRateCelebrityReflectionTermLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=rcl_QuantumOfTheSeasUnsecuredTermLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=rcl_AnthemOfTheSeasUnsecuredTermLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=rcl_OvationoftheSeasUnsecuredTermLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=rcl_HarmonyoftheSeasUnsecuredTermLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=rcl_EuroInterbankOfferedRateEURIBORDomain
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Instruments (Interest Rate Risk) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	May 31, 2016	Apr. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Percentage of long-term debt with fixed interest rate	40.50%			31.20%
Interest rate swaps
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Notional amount	$ 4,000,000			$ 4,300,000
Cash flow hedge \| Interest rate swaps
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Notional Amount	3,179,681
Fair value hedging \| Interest rate swaps
Interest Rate Fair Value Hedges [Abstract]
Long-term debt	825,000
Oasis of the Seas Unsecured Term Loan \| Fair value hedging \| Interest rate swaps
Interest Rate Fair Value Hedges [Abstract]
Long-term debt	$ 175,000
Debt Fixed Rate	5.41%
Fixed Rate 5.25 Percent Debt \| Fair value hedging \| Interest rate swaps
Interest Rate Fair Value Hedges [Abstract]
Long term debt, principal amount	$ 650,000
Debt Fixed Rate	5.25%
Floating Rate Celebrity Reflection Term Loan \| Cash flow hedge \| Interest rate swaps
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Notional Amount	$ 436,333
All-in Swap Fixed Rate	2.85%
Quantum of the Seas Unsecured Term Loan \| Cash flow hedge \| Interest rate swaps
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Notional Amount	$ 612,500
All-in Swap Fixed Rate	3.74%
Anthem of the Seas Unsecured Term Loan \| Cash flow hedge \| Interest rate swaps
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Notional Amount	$ 634,375
All-in Swap Fixed Rate	3.86%
Ovation of the Seas Unsecured Term Loan \| Interest rate swaps
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
All-in Swap Fixed Rate			3.16%
Ovation of the Seas Unsecured Term Loan \| Cash flow hedge \| Interest rate swaps
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Notional Amount	$ 795,417
All-in Swap Fixed Rate	3.16%
Harmony of the Seas Unsecured Term Loan \| Interest rate swaps
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
All-in Swap Fixed Rate		2.26%
Harmony of the Seas Unsecured Term Loan \| Cash flow hedge \| Interest rate swaps
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Notional Amount	$ 701,056
All-in Swap Fixed Rate	2.26%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) \| Oasis of the Seas Unsecured Term Loan \| Fair value hedging \| Interest rate swaps
Interest Rate Fair Value Hedges [Abstract]
Swap Floating Rate: LIBOR plus	3.87%
All-in Swap Floating Rate	5.13%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) \| Fixed Rate 5.25 Percent Debt \| Fair value hedging \| Interest rate swaps
Interest Rate Fair Value Hedges [Abstract]
Swap Floating Rate: LIBOR plus	3.63%
All-in Swap Floating Rate	4.54%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) \| Floating Rate Celebrity Reflection Term Loan \| Cash flow hedge \| Interest rate swaps
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Debt Floating Rate	0.40%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) \| Quantum of the Seas Unsecured Term Loan \| Cash flow hedge \| Interest rate swaps
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Debt Floating Rate	1.30%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) \| Anthem of the Seas Unsecured Term Loan \| Cash flow hedge \| Interest rate swaps
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Debt Floating Rate	1.30%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) \| Ovation of the Seas Unsecured Term Loan
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Debt Floating Rate	1.00%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) \| Ovation of the Seas Unsecured Term Loan \| Cash flow hedge \| Interest rate swaps
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Debt Floating Rate	1.00%
Euro Interbank Offered Rate (EURIBOR) \| Harmony of the Seas Unsecured Term Loan \| Cash flow hedge \| Interest rate swaps
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Debt Floating Rate	1.15%