Represents the actual number of shares underlying each performance share award, expressed as a percentage.

No definition available.

Name:	rcl_ActualSharesUnderlyingEachAwardAsPercentageOfTargetPerformanceShares
Namespace Prefix:	rcl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Employee Purchase Plan Purchase Price Percentage of Fair Market Value

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcl_EmployeePurchasePlanPurchasePricePercentageOfFairMarketValue
Namespace Prefix:	rcl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number Of Share Based Compensation Plans

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcl_NumberOfShareBasedCompensationPlans
Namespace Prefix:	rcl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Employee Stock Purchase Program Number Of Shares Available For Purchase

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcl_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByEmployeeStockPurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesAvailableForPurchase
Namespace Prefix:	rcl_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the maximum number of shares that can be awarded under a share-based compensation plan as a percentage of the target award.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Share Based Compensation Arrangement by Share Based Payment Award, Maximum Number of Shares that can be Granted to A Participant in Any Fiscal Year

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcl_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardMaximumNumberOfSharesThatCanBeGrantedToAParticipantInAnyFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	rcl_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Share Based Compensation Arrangement by Share Based Payment Award, Options, Expiration Term

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the number of shares issued quarterly under executive officer employment agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcl_SharesIssuedQuarterlyUnderExecutiveOfficerEmploymentAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	rcl_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(2)(iii)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph b(2)(c)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Definition

The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph a

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The weighted average of per share prices paid for shares purchased on the open market for issuance to employees under the plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPerShareWeightedAveragePriceOfSharesPurchased
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of shares issued during the period as a result of an employee stock purchase plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6959260&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 5

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 12

-Paragraph 10

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30

-Article 5

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Stock-Based Employee Compensation (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Stock-Based Employee Compensation (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012 item	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Number of stock-based compensation plans	3
Maximum number of award to be granted per individual	500,000
Maximum aggregate number of shares available under the employee stock purchase plan	800,000
Purchase price for each share of common stock as percentage of the average of the market price	90.00%
Shares of common stock issued under the ESPP plan	35,927	28,802	30,054
Weighted-average price of shares of common stock issued under the ESPP plan	$ 25.58	$ 29.46	$ 27.87
Chief Executive Officer
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Quarterly issuance of common stock to Chief Executive Officer	10,086	10,086	10,086
Lower Limit
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Vesting period for options and restricted stock	4 years
Upper Limit
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Vesting period for options and restricted stock	5 years
Maximum expiry period for options	10 years
Performance Shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Maximum actual number of shares underlying each performance share award as a percentage of target performance shares	200.00%
Number of target performance shares issued	329,088
Actual payout as percentage of target for performance shares issued in period	94.00%
2008 Equity Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Maximum number of shares authorized for issuance under stock-based compensation plans	11,000,000