(Loss) 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, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net (Loss) Income attributable to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. for basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share	$ (1,366,935)	$ (1,346,756)	$ (1,639,292)	$ (1,444,479)	$ 273,136	$ 883,240	$ 472,830	$ 249,681	$ (5,797,462)	$ 1,878,887	$ 1,811,042
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)									214,335	209,405	210,570
Dilutive effect of stock-based awards (in shares)									0	525	984
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding (in shares)									214,335	209,930	211,554
Basic (loss) earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ (6.09)	$ (6.29)	$ (7.83)	$ (6.91)	$ 1.31	$ 4.21	$ 2.26	$ 1.19	$ (27.05)	$ 8.97	$ 8.60
Diluted (loss) earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ (6.09)	$ (6.29)	$ (7.83)	$ (6.91)	$ 1.30	$ 4.20	$ 2.25	$ 1.19	$ (27.05)	$ 8.95	$ 8.56