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

No definition available.

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_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_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis=us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
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 ($)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Percentage of debt bearing fixed interest	45.90%	40.50%
Interest rate swaps \| Fair Value Hedging
Interest Rate Fair Value Hedges [Abstract]
Long-term Debt	$ 807,500,000
Interest rate swaps \| Fair Value Hedging \| Oasis of the Seas Unsecured Term Loan
Interest Rate Fair Value Hedges [Abstract]
Long-term Debt	$ 157,500,000
Debt Fixed Rate	5.41%
Interest rate swaps \| Fair Value Hedging \| Senior Fixed Rate 5.25%
Interest Rate Fair Value Hedges [Abstract]
Unsecured term loan	$ 650,000,000
Debt Fixed Rate	5.25%
Interest rate swaps \| Cash flow hedge
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Swap Notional Amount	$ 3,080,732,000
Interest rate swaps \| Cash flow hedge \| Celebrity Reflection floating rate debt
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Swap Notional Amount	$ 409,063,000
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate	2.85%
Interest rate swaps \| Cash flow hedge \| Quantum of the Seas Unsecured Term Loan
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Swap Notional Amount	$ 581,875,000
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate	3.74%
Interest rate swaps \| Cash flow hedge \| Anthem of the Seas Unsecured Term Loan
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Swap Notional Amount	$ 604,167,000
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate	3.86%
Interest rate swaps \| Cash flow hedge \| Ovation of the Seas Unsecured Term Loan
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Swap Notional Amount	$ 760,833,000
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate	3.16%
Interest rate swaps \| Cash flow hedge \| Harmony of the Seas Unsecured Term Loan
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Swap Notional Amount	$ 724,794,000
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate	2.26%
LIBOR \| Interest rate swaps \| Fair Value Hedging \| Oasis of the Seas Unsecured Term Loan
Interest Rate Fair Value Hedges [Abstract]
Swap Floating Rate: LIBOR plus	3.87%
All-in Swap Floating Rate	5.29%
LIBOR \| Interest rate swaps \| Fair Value Hedging \| Senior Fixed Rate 5.25%
Interest Rate Fair Value Hedges [Abstract]
Swap Floating Rate: LIBOR plus	3.63%
All-in Swap Floating Rate	4.81%
LIBOR \| Interest rate swaps \| Cash flow hedge \| Celebrity Reflection floating rate debt
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Margin on floating rate base	0.40%
LIBOR \| Interest rate swaps \| Cash flow hedge \| Quantum of the Seas Unsecured Term Loan
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Margin on floating rate base	1.30%
LIBOR \| Interest rate swaps \| Cash flow hedge \| Anthem of the Seas Unsecured Term Loan
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Margin on floating rate base	1.30%
LIBOR \| Interest rate swaps \| Cash flow hedge \| Ovation of the Seas Unsecured Term Loan
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Margin on floating rate base	1.00%
EURIBOR \| Interest rate swaps \| Cash flow hedge \| Harmony of the Seas Unsecured Term Loan
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]
Margin on floating rate base	1.15%