General	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
General	General Description of Business We are a global cruise company. As of September 30, 2018, we control and operate four global cruise brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises and, most recently, Silversea Cruises (collectively, our "Global Brands"). We also own a 50% joint venture interest in the German brand TUI Cruises, a 49% interest in the Spanish brand Pullmantur and a 37% interest in the Chinese brand SkySea Cruises (collectively, our "Partner Brands"). We account for our investments in our Partner Brands under the equity method of accounting. On July 31, 2018, we acquired a 66.7% equity stake in Silversea Cruise Holding Ltd. ("Silversea Cruises"), an ultra-luxury and expedition cruise line with nine ships operating on all seven continents, from Silversea Cruises Group Ltd. ("SCG") for $1.02 billion in cash and contingent consideration. Refer to Note 3. Business Combination for further information on the Silversea Cruises acquisition. In March 2018, we and Ctrip.com International Ltd. ("Ctrip") announced the decision to end the Skysea Holding International Ltd. ("Skysea Holding") venture. Skysea Holding plans to cease business operations by the end of 2018. Skysea Holding has entered into an agreement to sell the Golden Era, the ship operated by SkySea Cruises and owned by a wholly owned subsidiary of Skysea Holding, to an affiliate of TUI AG, our joint venture partner in TUI Cruises, and the sale is expected to close in December 2018. Refer to Note 7. Other Assets for further information regarding our investment in SkySea Holding. Basis for Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements The unaudited consolidated financial statements are presented pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In our opinion, these statements include all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the results of the interim periods reported herein. Adjustments consist only of normal recurring items, except for any items discussed in the notes below. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted as permitted by such rules and regulations. Estimates are required for the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and actual results could differ from these estimates. Refer to Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 for a discussion of our significant accounting policies. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. We consolidate entities over which we have control, usually evidenced by a direct ownership interest of greater than 50%, and variable interest entities where we are determined to be the primary beneficiary. Refer to Note 7. Other Assets for further information regarding our variable interest entities. We consolidate the operating results of Silversea Cruises on a three-month reporting lag to allow for more timely preparation of our consolidated financial statements. No material events or other transactions involving Silversea Cruises have occurred from July 31, 2018, the Silversea Cruises acquisition date, through September 30, 2018 that would require further disclosure or adjustment to our consolidated financial statements as of and for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2018. For affiliates we do not control but over which we have significant influence with respect to their financial and operating policies, usually evidenced by a direct ownership interest ranging from 20% to 50%, the investment is accounted for using the equity method.

General

Description of Business

We are a global cruise company. As of September 30, 2018, we control and operate four global cruise brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises and, most recently, Silversea Cruises (collectively, our "Global Brands").

We also own a 50% joint venture interest in the German brand TUI Cruises, a 49% interest in the Spanish brand Pullmantur and a 37% interest in the Chinese brand SkySea Cruises (collectively, our "Partner Brands"). We account for our investments in our Partner Brands under the equity method of accounting.

On July 31, 2018, we acquired a 66.7% equity stake in Silversea Cruise Holding Ltd. ("Silversea Cruises"), an ultra-luxury and expedition cruise line with nine ships operating on all seven continents, from Silversea Cruises Group Ltd. ("SCG") for $1.02 billion in cash and contingent consideration. Refer to Note 3. Business Combination for further information on the Silversea Cruises acquisition.

In March 2018, we and Ctrip.com International Ltd. ("Ctrip") announced the decision to end the Skysea Holding International Ltd. ("Skysea Holding") venture. Skysea Holding plans to cease business operations by the end of 2018. Skysea Holding has entered into an agreement to sell the Golden Era, the ship operated by SkySea Cruises and owned by a wholly owned subsidiary of Skysea Holding, to an affiliate of TUI AG, our joint venture partner in TUI Cruises, and the sale is expected to close in December 2018. Refer to Note 7. Other Assets for further information regarding our investment in SkySea Holding.

Basis for Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements

The unaudited consolidated financial statements are presented pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In our opinion, these statements include all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the results of the interim periods reported herein. Adjustments consist only of normal recurring items, except for any items discussed in the notes below. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted as permitted by such rules and regulations. Estimates are required for the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and actual results could differ from these estimates. Refer to Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 for a discussion of our significant accounting policies.

All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. We consolidate entities over which we have control, usually evidenced by a direct ownership interest of greater than 50%, and variable interest entities where we are determined to be the primary beneficiary. Refer to Note 7. Other Assets for further information regarding our variable interest entities. We consolidate the operating results of Silversea Cruises on a three-month reporting lag to allow for more timely preparation of our consolidated financial statements. No material events or other transactions involving Silversea Cruises have occurred from July 31, 2018, the Silversea Cruises acquisition date, through September 30, 2018 that would require further disclosure or adjustment to our consolidated financial statements as of and for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2018. For affiliates we do not control but over which we have significant influence with respect to their financial and operating policies, usually evidenced by a direct ownership interest ranging from 20% to 50%, the investment is accounted for using the equity method.