Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Instruments - Income Statement Hedging Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Effect of derivative instruments involved in hedging on the consolidated financial statements
Fuel	$ 160,341	$ 177,414
Depreciation and amortization	240,230	235,749
Interest Income (Expense)	(60,145)	(74,065)
Other expense	(757)	(2,611)
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Gain (Loss), Net	7,810	13,812
Other expense
Effect of derivative instruments involved in hedging on the consolidated financial statements
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Gain (Loss), Net	7,810	13,752
Fuel swaps \| Other expense
Effect of derivative instruments involved in hedging on the consolidated financial statements
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Gain (Loss), Net	(30)	(60)
Fuel swaps \| Fuel cost
Effect of derivative instruments involved in hedging on the consolidated financial statements
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Gain (Loss), Net	2,205	0
Foreign currency forward contracts \| Other expense
Effect of derivative instruments involved in hedging on the consolidated financial statements
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Gain (Loss), Net	5,635	13,812
Fair Value Hedging
Effect of derivative instruments involved in hedging on the consolidated financial statements
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Hedged Item	13,182	2,457
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative	(12,570)	(358)
Fair Value Hedging \| Interest Contracts \| Interest expense, net of interest capitalized
Effect of derivative instruments involved in hedging on the consolidated financial statements
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Hedged Item	13,182
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative	(12,570)	1,173
Fair Value Hedging \| Interest Contracts \| Other expense
Effect of derivative instruments involved in hedging on the consolidated financial statements
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Hedged Item		2,457
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative		(1,531)
Fair Value Hedging \| Interest rate swaps \| Interest expense, net of interest capitalized
Effect of derivative instruments involved in hedging on the consolidated financial statements
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Hedged Item	13,182	0
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative	(12,570)	1,173
Fair Value Hedging \| Interest rate swaps \| Other expense
Effect of derivative instruments involved in hedging on the consolidated financial statements
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Hedged Item	0	2,457
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative	0	(1,531)
Cash flow hedge
Effect of derivative instruments involved in hedging on the consolidated financial statements
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Effective Portion)	(14,914)	(53,390)
Cash flow hedge \| Interest Contracts \| Interest expense, net of interest capitalized
Effect of derivative instruments involved in hedging on the consolidated financial statements
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Effective Portion)	(6,838)	(8,857)
Cash flow hedge \| Interest rate swaps \| Interest expense, net of interest capitalized
Effect of derivative instruments involved in hedging on the consolidated financial statements
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Effective Portion)	(6,838)	(8,857)
Cash flow hedge \| Fuel swaps \| Other expense
Effect of derivative instruments involved in hedging on the consolidated financial statements
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Effective Portion)	325	2,277
Cash flow hedge \| Fuel swaps \| Fuel cost
Effect of derivative instruments involved in hedging on the consolidated financial statements
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Effective Portion)	(5,131)	(39,928)
Cash flow hedge \| Foreign exchange contracts \| Depreciation and amortization expenses
Effect of derivative instruments involved in hedging on the consolidated financial statements
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Effective Portion)	(3,312)	(3,312)
Cash flow hedge \| Foreign currency forward contracts \| Depreciation and amortization expenses
Effect of derivative instruments involved in hedging on the consolidated financial statements
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Effective Portion)	(3,312)	(2,710)
Cash flow hedge \| Foreign currency forward contracts \| Other expense
Effect of derivative instruments involved in hedging on the consolidated financial statements
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Effective Portion)	$ 42	$ (3,570)

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

The current period expense charged against earnings on long-lived, physical assets not used in production, and which are not intended for resale, to allocate or recognize the cost of such assets over their useful lives; or to record the reduction in book value of an intangible asset over the benefit period of such asset; or to reflect consumption during the period of an asset that is not used in production.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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

- Definition

The effective portion of net gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4C
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84234895&loc=SL5624171-113959

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4D
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84234895&loc=SL5624177-113959

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of realized and unrealized gain (loss) of derivative instruments not designated or qualifying as hedging instruments.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Fuel costs incurred that are directly related to goods produced and sold and services rendered during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2(a),(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FuelCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net amount of operating interest income (expense).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.10)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of income (expense) related to nonoperating activities, classified as other.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.9)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
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_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember
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_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_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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