Derivative instrument, Credit Risk Exposure

No definition available.

Name:	rcl_DerivativeInstrumentCreditRiskExposure
Namespace Prefix:	rcl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum length of time over which the entity is hedging its exposure.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Percentage of Aggregate Cost Exposed to Fluctuations in the Euro Exchange Rate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Purchase Contract, Deposit.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcl_PurchaseContractDeposit
Namespace Prefix:	rcl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- 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_DerivativeLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Nominal or face amount used to calculate payment on derivative.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5580258-113959

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5579245-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in earnings in the period from the increase (decrease) in fair value of foreign currency derivatives not designated as hedging instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4A
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5618551-113959

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4C
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5624171-113959

+ Details

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

- Definition

The interest rate applicable to the portion of the carrying amount of long-term borrowings outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including current maturities, which accrues interest at a set, unchanging rate.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- Definition

The minimum amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Nominal or face amount used to calculate payments on a nonderivative instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfNonderivativeInstruments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
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Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis=us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationByCategoryOfItemPurchasedAxis=us-gaap_CapitalAdditionsMember
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- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=rcl_TUICruisesMember
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis=us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
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- Details

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Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Instruments - Derivative Instruments, Interest Rate Risk, Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands, € in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 EUR (€)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 EUR (€)	Sep. 30, 2019 EUR (€)
Gains and losses from derivatives involved in hedging relationships
Derivative instrument, credit risk exposure			$ 800			$ 5,600
Maximum length of time hedged in derivative contract			3 years	3 years
Percentage of debt bearing fixed interest	66.10%		66.10%			59.10%		66.10%
Interest rate swaps
Gains and losses from derivatives involved in hedging relationships
Derivative, notional amount	$ 3,600,000		$ 3,600,000			$ 3,400,000
Forward Contracts
Gains and losses from derivatives involved in hedging relationships
Change in fair value of foreign currency forward contracts recognized in earnings	(26,000)	$ (12,100)	(25,200)		$ (43,400)
Forward Contracts \| Not Designated
Gains and losses from derivatives involved in hedging relationships
Derivative, notional amount	725,400		725,400
Foreign exchange contracts
Gains and losses from derivatives involved in hedging relationships
Derivative, notional amount	3,000,000		3,000,000			$ 3,200,000
Cruise ships on order
Gains and losses from derivatives involved in hedging relationships
Aggregate cost of ships on order, not including partner brands on order			11,100,000
Amount deposited for cost of ships on order	$ 705,500		$ 705,500
Percentage of aggregate cost exposed to fluctuations in the euro exchange rate	57.90%		57.90%			53.50%		57.90%
TUI Cruises \| Forward Contracts \| Designated as Hedging Instrument
Gains and losses from derivatives involved in hedging relationships
Derivative, notional amount	$ 188,600		$ 188,600					€ 173.0
Foreign currency debt
Gains and losses from derivatives involved in hedging relationships
Carrying value of non-derivative instrument designated as hedging instrument			311,797			$ 320,152
Foreign currency debt \| TUI Cruises
Gains and losses from derivatives involved in hedging relationships
Carrying value of non-derivative instrument designated as hedging instrument			$ 311,800	€ 286.0		$ 320,200	€ 280.0