<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-02-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000884887</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RCL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001317543</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Laviada Laura</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1050 CARIBBEAN WAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIAMI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33132</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8259</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15417</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to Purchase Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.265</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8578</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-02-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8578</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8578</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person was granted restricted stock units under the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. 2008 Equity Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents the maximum number of shares of common stock underlying the restricted stock units, which vest as follows: 2,065
 on each of 2/10/2010, 2/10/2011 and 2/10/2012 and 2,064 on 2/10/2013.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The restricted stock units were granted to the reporting person without payment thereof as compensation for serving as a
 director of the issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The reporting person was granted the option under the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. 2008 Equity Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Represents the average of the high and low prices for the issuer's common stock on the NYSE on 2/10/2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The option is exercisable as follows: 2,145 on each of 2/10/2010 and 2/10/2011 and 2,144 on each of 2/10/2012 and 2/10/2013.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">The option was granted without payment thereof as compensation for serving as a director of the issuer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>EXHIBIT LIST: Exhibit 24 - Limited Power of Attorney for Secion 16 Reporting Obligations</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Richard Montes de Oca, Attorney-in-Fact for Laura Laviada</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
