Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net Income attributable to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. for basic and diluted earnings per share	$ 883,240	$ 810,391	$ 1,605,751	$ 1,495,339
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	209,575,000	209,054,000	209,477,000	211,099,000
Dilutive effect of stock-based awards and stock options (in shares)	546,000	874,000	555,000	874,000
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding (in shares)	210,121,000	209,928,000	210,032,000	211,973,000
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 4.21	$ 3.88	$ 7.67	$ 7.08
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 4.20	$ 3.86	$ 7.65	$ 7.05
Antidilutive securities (in shares)	0	0	0	0