Represents the amortization period of debt instruments.

No definition available.

Name:	rcl_DebtInstrumentAmortizationPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	rcl_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument Covenant Change Of Control Percentage Of Acquired Ownership By Any Person.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcl_DebtInstrumentCovenantChangeOfControlPercentageOfAcquiredOwnershipByAnyPerson
Namespace Prefix:	rcl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the percentage of loan obtained by the entity, for which guarantee to the lender for payment has been provided by third party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcl_GuaranteePercent
Namespace Prefix:	rcl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of months which are considered to determine whether there is a requirement to prepay the debts outstanding under the majority of credit facilities of the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcl_NumberOfMonthsConsideredToDetermineRequirementOfPrepaymentOfDebts
Namespace Prefix:	rcl_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of ship under construction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcl_NumberOfShipsUnderConstruction
Namespace Prefix:	rcl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of Aggregate Cost Exposed to Fluctuations in the Euro Exchange Rate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcl_PercentageOfAggregateCostExposedToFluctuationsInEuroExchangeRate
Namespace Prefix:	rcl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the percentage of the contract price of the ship which the bank has committed to finance.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcl_PercentageOfBankCommittedFinancing
Namespace Prefix:	rcl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Purchase Contract, Deposit.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcl_PurchaseContractDeposit
Namespace Prefix:	rcl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Ship Passenger Capacity Berths.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcl_ShipPassengerCapacityBerths
Namespace Prefix:	rcl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
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

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 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

- Definition

The minimum amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationByCategoryOfItemPurchasedAxis=us-gaap_CapitalAdditionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=rcl_RoyalCaribbeanInternationalCruiseShipsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis=rcl_QuantumClassShipMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis=rcl_OasisClassShipMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis=rcl_ProjectIconMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis=rcl_ProjectEdgeClassShipMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=rcl_CelebrityCruiseShipsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis=rcl_ThirdandFourthEdgeClassShipsandFifthOasisClassShipMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis=rcl_ThirdEdgeClassShipMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis=rcl_FourthEdgeClassShipMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis=rcl_FifthOasisClassShipMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis=rcl_FourthEdgeandFifthOasisClassShipsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=rcl_EulerHermesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis=rcl_FirstProjectIconClassShipMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis=rcl_SecondProjectIconClassShipMember
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_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) € in Millions, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2017 EUR (€) berth	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) ship berth	Oct. 31, 2017 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Commitments and Contingencies
Percentage of loan bearing fixed interest rate			48.80%		40.50%
Number of months considered to determine requirement of prepayment of debts			24 months
Cruise ships on order
Commitments and Contingencies
Aggregate cost of ships on order, not including TUI cruises on order \| $			$ 13,000.0
Deposit for the purchase of ships expected to enter service \| $			$ 323.2
Percentage of aggregate cost exposed to fluctuations in the euro exchange rate			53.80%		66.70%
Unsecured Term Loan Maturing Twelve Years After Ship Delivery [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies
Debt instrument, amortization period		12 years
Loan Facility \| Minimum
Commitments and Contingencies
Debt instrument covenant, minimum percentage of ownership by a person			50.00%
Debt Securities \| Minimum
Commitments and Contingencies
Debt instrument covenant, minimum percentage of ownership by a person			50.00%
Royal Caribbean International Cruise Ships \| Cruise ships on order
Commitments and Contingencies
Ship passenger capacity berths \| berth			30,500
Quantum Class Ship \| Royal Caribbean International Cruise Ships \| Cruise ships on order
Commitments and Contingencies
Number of ships under construction \| ship			2
Oasis Class Ship \| Royal Caribbean International Cruise Ships \| Cruise ships on order
Commitments and Contingencies
Number of ships under construction \| ship			2
Project Icon \| Cruise ships on order
Commitments and Contingencies
Number of ships under construction \| ship			2
Project Icon \| Royal Caribbean International Cruise Ships
Commitments and Contingencies
Ship passenger capacity berths \| berth			5,650
Project Icon \| Royal Caribbean International Cruise Ships \| Cruise ships on order
Commitments and Contingencies
Number of ships under construction \| ship			2
Project Edge Class Ship \| Celebrity Cruise Ships \| Cruise ships on order
Commitments and Contingencies
Number of ships under construction \| ship			4
Ship passenger capacity berths \| berth			11,600
Third and Fourth Edge Class Ships and Fifth Oasis Class Ship
Commitments and Contingencies
Percentage of bank committed financing		80.00%
Guarantee percent		100.00%
Third Edge Class Ship \| Unsecured Term Loan Maturing Twelve Years After Ship Delivery [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies
Unsecured term loan maximum borrowing commitment \| €		€ 684.2
Debt Fixed Rate		1.28%
Third Edge Class Ship \| Celebrity Cruise Ships
Commitments and Contingencies
Ship passenger capacity berths \| berth		2,900
Fourth Edge Class Ship \| Unsecured Term Loan Maturing Twelve Years After Ship Delivery [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies
Unsecured term loan maximum borrowing commitment		€ 714.6				$ 844.7
Fifth Oasis Class Ship \| Unsecured Term Loan Maturing Twelve Years After Ship Delivery [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies
Unsecured term loan maximum borrowing commitment		€ 1,100.0				$ 1,300.0
Fifth Oasis Class Ship \| Royal Caribbean International Cruise Ships
Commitments and Contingencies
Ship passenger capacity berths \| berth		5,450
Fourth Edge and Fifth Oasis Class Ships \| Unsecured Term Loan Maturing Twelve Years After Ship Delivery [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies
Debt Fixed Rate		3.18%
Subsequent Event \| Project Icon \| Unsecured Term Loan Maturing Twelve Years After Ship Delivery [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies
Unsecured term loan maximum borrowing commitment	$ 1,700.0			€ 1,400.0
Percentage of loan bearing fixed interest rate	75.00%			75.00%
Debt instrument, amortization period	12 years
Subsequent Event \| Project Icon \| Royal Caribbean International Cruise Ships
Commitments and Contingencies
Percentage of bank committed financing	80.00%			80.00%
Subsequent Event \| Project Icon \| Euler Hermes
Commitments and Contingencies
Guarantee percent	95.00%
Subsequent Event \| First Project Icon Class Ship \| Unsecured Term Loan Maturing Twelve Years After Ship Delivery [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies
Debt Fixed Rate	3.56%			3.56%
Subsequent Event \| Second Project Icon Class Ship \| Unsecured Term Loan Maturing Twelve Years After Ship Delivery [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies
Debt Fixed Rate	3.76%			3.76%
LIBOR \| Subsequent Event \| First Project Icon Class Ship \| Unsecured Term Loan Maturing Twelve Years After Ship Delivery [Member] \| Minimum
Commitments and Contingencies
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate	1.10%
LIBOR \| Subsequent Event \| First Project Icon Class Ship \| Unsecured Term Loan Maturing Twelve Years After Ship Delivery [Member] \| Maximum
Commitments and Contingencies
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate	1.15%
LIBOR \| Subsequent Event \| Second Project Icon Class Ship \| Unsecured Term Loan Maturing Twelve Years After Ship Delivery [Member] \| Minimum
Commitments and Contingencies
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate	1.15%
LIBOR \| Subsequent Event \| Second Project Icon Class Ship \| Unsecured Term Loan Maturing Twelve Years After Ship Delivery [Member] \| Maximum
Commitments and Contingencies
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate	1.20%