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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.2


                                                               February 20, 2001


Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
1050 Caribbean Way
Miami, Florida 33132

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as special New York Counsel to Royal Caribbean Cruises
Ltd., a Liberian corporation (the "Company"), and in such capacity we have
assisted in the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
of the Company's Registration Statement on Form F-3 (such registration
statement and any additional registration statement filed pursuant to Rule
462(b) is referred to as the "Registration Statement") being filed with respect
to the contemplated issuance by the Company from time to time of up to
$1,000,000,000 aggregate public offering price (or any such further aggregate
public offering price as may be registered pursuant to Rule 462(b)) or the
equivalent amount thereof in one or more foreign currencies, currency units or
composite currencies of (i) senior debt securities (the "Debt Securities"),
which may be issued pursuant to the Indenture dated as of July 15, 1994, as
supplemented, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (the
"Indenture"); (ii) shares of preferred stock of the Company, par value $.01 per
share; and (iii) shares of common stock of the Company, par value $.01 per
share.

     We have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to
our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records, certificates of public
officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary for purposes of
this opinion.

     On the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that when the
specific terms of a particular Debt Security have been duly authorized by the
Board of Directors of the Company and established in accordance with the
Indenture and such Debt Security has been duly executed, authenticated, issued
for value and delivered in accordance with the Indenture, such Debt Security
will be a binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms, except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and by general
principles of equity.

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Royal Caribbean Cruises                  2                     February 20, 2001


     We are members of the Bar of the State of New York and the foregoing
opinion is limited to the laws of the State of New York and the federal laws of
the United States of America. To the extent that the foregoing opinion
expresses conclusions as to matters of the laws of Liberia, we have, with your
permission and without any independent investigation, relied on the opinion of
Watson, Farley & Williams.

     We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to our name under the heading
"Legal Opinions." In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are
in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Securities Act.

     This opinion is rendered solely to you in connection with the above
matter. This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose or
relied upon by or furnished to any other person without our prior written
consent.


                                                          Very truly yours,



                                                          DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL