Earnings Per Share (Reconciliation of Earnings Per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net Income attributable to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. for basic and diluted earnings per share	$ 315,703	$ 810,391	$ 466,295	$ 218,653	$ 288,039	$ 752,842	$ 369,526	$ 214,726	$ 1,811,042	$ 1,625,133	$ 1,283,388
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)									210,570	214,617	215,393
Dilutive effect of stock-based awards (in shares)									984	1,077	923
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding									211,554	215,694	216,316
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.51	$ 3.88	$ 2.20	$ 1.03	$ 1.35	$ 3.51	$ 1.72	$ 1.00	$ 8.60	$ 7.57	$ 5.96
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.50	$ 3.86	$ 2.19	$ 1.02	$ 1.34	$ 3.49	$ 1.71	$ 0.99	$ 8.56	$ 7.53	$ 5.93