Represents the time lag in consolidation of reporting entity.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Represents the number of continents.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the number of cruise brands that operate ships.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Number Of Cruise Ships

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Number of Destinations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the percentage of subsidiary which has been sold.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66011266&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount after tax of income (loss) of subsidiary attributable to the parent entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Percentage of subsidiary's or equity investee's stock owned by parent company after stock transaction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SaleOfStockPercentageOfOwnershipAfterTransaction
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
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_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=rcl_TUICruisesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=rcl_PullmanturAndCDFCroisieresDeFranceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=rcl_SkySeaCruisesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpenseMember
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Period Type:

General (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
General (Details) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 ship continent destination brand	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2016
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of cruise brands \| brand		3
Number of ships in operation \| ship		49
Number of destinations \| destination		540
Number of continents \| continent		7
Income (loss) from subsidiaries			$ (21.7)
TUI Cruises
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investment in a joint venture, percentage of interest		50.00%
Pullmantur and CDF Croisieres De France
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investment in a joint venture, percentage of interest		49.00%
Number of ships in operation \| ship		4
Percentage of subsidiary which has been sold		51.00%		51.00%
Retained ownership percentage of subsidiary after sale		49.00%
Consolidation time lag		2 months
Income (loss) from subsidiaries	$ (21.7)
SkySea Cruises
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investment in a joint venture, percentage of interest		36.00%
Other income (expense) \| Pullmantur and CDF Croisieres De France
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Income (loss) from subsidiaries			$ (21.7)