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

    <schemaVersion>X0508</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2023-07-28</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001848559</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Holtz Naftali</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1050 CARIBBEAN WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIAMI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33132</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>true</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>false</aff10b5One>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2023-07-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5949.499</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>110.6176</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30966.501</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents the weighted-average sale price per share of a series of transactions, all of which were executed on July 28, 2023. The actual sale prices ranged from a low of $110.39 to a high of $110.68. The Reporting Person undertakes to provide upon request of the SEC Staff, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. or a Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. security holder full information regarding the number of shares sold at each price within the range.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 170 shares acquired under the Issuer's Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Indira Sordo, Attorney-in-Fact for Naftali Holtz</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-08-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
