Represents the amortization period of debt instruments.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Debt Instrument Covenant Change Of Control Percentage Of Acquired Ownership By Any Person.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the percentage of loan obtained by the entity, for which guarantee to the lender for payment has been provided by third party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the number of months which are considered to determine whether there is a requirement to prepay the debts outstanding under the majority of credit facilities of the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the number of ship under construction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Percentage of Aggregate Cost Exposed to Fluctuations in the Euro Exchange Rate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the percentage of the contract price of the ship which the bank has committed to finance.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Purchase Contract, Deposit.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcl_PurchaseContractDeposit
Namespace Prefix:	rcl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Ship Passenger Capacity Berths.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the maximum borrowing which the company has arranged for each ship constructed.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcl_UnsecuredTermLoanMaximumBorrowingCommintmentPerShip
Namespace Prefix:	rcl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: 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

- Definition

The minimum amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationByCategoryOfItemPurchasedAxis=us-gaap_CapitalAdditionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=rcl_RoyalCaribbeanInternationalCruiseShipsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis=rcl_OasisClassShipMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis=rcl_QuantumClassShipMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis=rcl_ProjectIconMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=rcl_FinnveraplcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=rcl_EulerHermesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis=rcl_ProjectEdgeClassShipMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=rcl_CelebrityCruiseShipsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=rcl_UnsecuredTermLoanMaturingTwelveYearsAfterShipDeliveryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis=rcl_ThirdandFourthEdgeClassShipsandFifthOasisClassShipMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis=rcl_ThirdEdgeClassShipMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis=rcl_FourthEdgeClassShipMember
Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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Commitments and Contingencies (Details) € in Millions, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2017 USD ($) berth	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) ship berth	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) ship berth	Jul. 31, 2017 EUR (€) berth	Dec. 31, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies
Number of months considered to determine requirement of prepayment of debts			24 months
Cruise ships on order
Commitments and Contingencies
Aggregate cost of ships on order, not including TUI cruises on order \| $			$ 12,600.0
Deposit for the purchase of ships expected to enter service \| $		$ 322.4	$ 322.4
Percentage of aggregate cost exposed to fluctuations in the euro exchange rate		63.30%	63.30%		66.70%
Loan Facility \| Minimum
Commitments and Contingencies
Debt instrument covenant, minimum percentage of ownership by a person		50.00%	50.00%
Debt Securities \| Minimum
Commitments and Contingencies
Debt instrument covenant, minimum percentage of ownership by a person		50.00%	50.00%
Royal Caribbean International Cruise Ships \| Cruise ships on order
Commitments and Contingencies
Ship passenger capacity berths		30,500	30,500
Oasis Class Ship [Member] \| Royal Caribbean International Cruise Ships \| Cruise ships on order
Commitments and Contingencies
Number of ships under construction \| ship		2	2
Quantum Class Ship [Member] \| Royal Caribbean International Cruise Ships \| Cruise ships on order
Commitments and Contingencies
Number of ships under construction \| ship		2	2
Project Icon \| Royal Caribbean International Cruise Ships
Commitments and Contingencies
Percentage of bank committed financing		80.00%	80.00%
Project Icon \| Royal Caribbean International Cruise Ships \| Cruise ships on order
Commitments and Contingencies
Number of ships under construction \| ship		2	2
Ship passenger capacity berths		11,300	11,300
Project Icon \| Finnvera plc
Commitments and Contingencies
Guarantee Percent		100.00%
Project Icon \| Euler Hermes [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies
Guarantee Percent		95.00%
Project Edge Class Ship [Member] \| Celebrity Cruise Ships \| Cruise ships on order
Commitments and Contingencies
Number of ships under construction \| ship		4	4
Ship passenger capacity berths		11,600	11,600
Subsequent Event \| Unsecured Term Loan Maturing Twelve Years After Ship Delivery [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies
Debt Instrument, Amortization Period	12 years
Subsequent Event \| Third and Fourth Edge Class Ships and Fifth Oasis Class Ship
Commitments and Contingencies
Percentage of bank committed financing	80.00%			80.00%
Guarantee Percent	100.00%
Subsequent Event \| Third Edge Class Ship \| Unsecured Term Loan Maturing Twelve Years After Ship Delivery [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies
Unsecured Term Loan Maximum Borrowing Commintment Per Ship \| €				€ 684.2
Debt Fixed Rate	1.28%			1.28%
Subsequent Event \| Third Edge Class Ship \| Celebrity Cruise Ships
Commitments and Contingencies
Ship passenger capacity berths	2,900			2,900
Subsequent Event \| Fourth Edge Class Ship \| Unsecured Term Loan Maturing Twelve Years After Ship Delivery [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies
Unsecured Term Loan Maximum Borrowing Commintment Per Ship	$ 814.9			€ 714.6
Subsequent Event \| Fifth Oasis Class Ship \| Unsecured Term Loan Maturing Twelve Years After Ship Delivery [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies
Unsecured Term Loan Maximum Borrowing Commintment Per Ship	$ 1,300.0			€ 1,100.0
Subsequent Event \| Fifth Oasis Class Ship \| Royal Caribbean International Cruise Ships
Commitments and Contingencies
Ship passenger capacity berths	5,450			5,450
Subsequent Event \| Fourth Edge and Fifth Oasis Class Ships \| Unsecured Term Loan Maturing Twelve Years After Ship Delivery [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies
Debt Fixed Rate	3.18%			3.18%