Credit agency fees, percentage of maximum loan amount payable

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Credit agency fees, percentage of outstanding loan balance

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Debt Instrument Amortization Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcl_DebtInstrumentAmortizationPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	rcl_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Maturity, Month and Year

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcl_DebtInstrumentMaturityMonthAndYear
Namespace Prefix:	rcl_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearMonthItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Expected Service Entry Date

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcl_ExpectedServiceEntryDate
Namespace Prefix:	rcl_
Data Type:	us-types:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Guarantee, Percent

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Percentage of Loans Subject to Syndication

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Percentage of Purchase Price Provided By The Loan

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.

+ References

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

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 21

-Paragraph 16, 20

-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 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Increase for additional borrowings on the debt instrument during the period.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 4

-Section 08

-Paragraph f

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(f))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

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

- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

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

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

- Details

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

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

-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 SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Long-Term Debt - Additional Information (Detail) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended					1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2012 Lower Limit	Mar. 31, 2012 Upper Limit	Mar. 31, 2012 Up-front Payment Arrangement Lower Limit	Mar. 31, 2012 Up-front Payment Arrangement Upper Limit	Apr. 30, 2012 Issuance of Debt USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Royal Caribbean International Cruise Ships EUR (€)	Mar. 31, 2012 Royal Caribbean International Cruise Ships Second New Generation	Mar. 31, 2012 Celebrity Reflection
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Scheduled to enter service								2nd Quarter 2015	Fourth quarter 2012
Long term debt	$ 875.0						€ 595.0
Percentage of loan subject to syndication prior to delivery							50.00%
Percentage of unsecured term loan guaranteed by Hermes							95.00%		95.00%
Unsecured term loan, amortization period (in year)							12 years		12 years
Unsecured term loan, fixed interest rate							4.76%		4.13%
Additional interest							1.30%		0.40%
Debt termination month and year	2016-07
Additional credit facility capacity	300.0					53.0
Increase in credit facility capacity	$ 935.0
Credit agency fees, percentage of outstanding loan balance		0.88%	1.48%
Credit agency fees, percentage of maximum loan amount payable				2.30%	2.37%
Percentage of purchase price provided by the loan agreement									80.00%