CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Treasury Stock
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 11,105,461	$ 2,358	$ 3,420,900	$ 10,263,282	$ (627,734)	$ (1,953,345)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Activity related to employee stock plans	28,773	6	33,931			(5,164)
Changes related to cash flow derivative hedges	(22,891)				(22,891)
Change in defined benefit plans	(10,375)				(10,375)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	7,827				7,827
Common stock dividends	(292,903)			(292,903)
Net Income attributable to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.	722,511			722,511
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2019	11,538,403	2,364	3,454,831	10,692,890	(653,173)	(1,958,509)
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2019	11,269,070	2,364	3,432,419	10,366,612	(578,980)	(1,953,345)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Activity related to employee stock plans	17,248		22,412			(5,164)
Changes related to cash flow derivative hedges	(71,734)				(71,734)
Change in defined benefit plans	(9,722)				(9,722)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	7,263				7,263
Common stock dividends	(146,552)			(146,552)
Net Income attributable to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.	472,830			472,830
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2019	11,538,403	2,364	3,454,831	10,692,890	(653,173)	(1,958,509)
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	12,163,846	2,365	3,493,959	11,523,326	(797,713)	(2,058,091)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Activity related to employee stock plans	(8,552)	7	(8,559)
Equity component of convertible notes, net of issuance costs	208,988		208,988
Changes related to cash flow derivative hedges	(176,274)				(176,274)
Change in defined benefit plans	(13,867)				(13,867)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	36,624			(3)	36,627
Purchases of treasury stock	0		5,900			(5,900)
Common stock dividends	(163,089)			(163,089)
Net Income attributable to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.	(3,083,771)			(3,083,771)
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2020	8,963,905	2,372	3,700,288	8,276,463	(951,227)	(2,063,991)
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2020	10,231,775	2,372	3,473,253	9,915,758	(1,095,617)	(2,063,991)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Activity related to employee stock plans	18,047		18,047
Equity component of convertible notes, net of issuance costs	208,988		208,988
Changes related to cash flow derivative hedges	124,331				124,331
Change in defined benefit plans	(6,278)				(6,278)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	26,334			(3)	26,337
Net Income attributable to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.	(1,639,292)			(1,639,292)
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2020	$ 8,963,905	$ 2,372	$ 3,700,288	$ 8,276,463	$ (951,227)	$ (2,063,991)

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Rounding

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Aggregate value of stock issued during the period as a result of our stock-based compensation plans, which provide for awards to our officers, directors and key employees, and the aggregate change in value for stock issued during the period as a result of employee stock purchase plan.

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Equity impact of the value of stock that has been repurchased during the period and has not been retired and is not held in treasury. Some state laws may mandate the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock.

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Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which are attributable to the parent. The amount of the economic entity's stockholders' equity attributable to the parent excludes the amount of stockholders' equity which is allocable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (noncontrolling interest, minority interest). This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity.

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