Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Instruments (Income Statement Hedging Instruments) (Details) - Fair value hedging - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Effect of derivative instruments involved in fair value hedging on the consolidated financial statements
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative	$ (132)	$ 3,823
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Hedged Item	6,065	12,275
Interest rate swaps \| Interest expense, net of interest capitalized
Effect of derivative instruments involved in fair value hedging on the consolidated financial statements
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative	3,007	7,448
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Hedged Item	0	7,203
Interest rate swaps \| Other income (expense)
Effect of derivative instruments involved in fair value hedging on the consolidated financial statements
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative	(3,139)	(3,625)
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Hedged Item	$ 6,065	$ 5,072

Amount of gain (loss) from the increase (decrease) in fair value of derivative and nonderivative instruments designated as fair value hedging instruments recognized in the income statement.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 25
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6886632&loc=d3e76258-113986

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnFairValueHedgingInstruments1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the increase (decrease) in fair value of the hedged item in a fair value hedge recognized in the income statement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnHedgedItemInFairValueHedge1
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_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=rcl_OtherIncomeAndExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: