EXHIBIT 5

March 25, 2002

Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.


Re:      Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
         2000 Stock Option Plan




Dear Sir or Madam:

I am the General Counsel of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., a Liberian
corporation (the "Company"), and I have acted in that capacity in connection
with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the Corporation's Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") of 5,000,000 additional
shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Shares"),
issuable upon exercise of options granted under the Company's 2000 Stock Option
Plan (the "Plan").

In furnishing this opinion, I have examined copies of the Articles of
Incorporation and By-laws of the Company, as amended, the Plan, and such other
papers, documents and certificates of public officials as I have deemed
necessary and relevant to provide a basis for the opinions set forth below. In
making such examinations, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures and
the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals and the
conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to me as copies.

This opinion is limited to the laws of the Republic of Liberia. In rendering
this opinion, I have relied solely upon the Liberian Business Corporation Act
of 1976 (Title 5 of the Liberian Code of Laws Revised, effective January 3,
1977, as amended), as contained in pamphlets and materials delivered to me by
Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry, LLC which, according to
Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry, LLC remains, to the best of
their knowledge, in effect on the date hereof.





On the basis of the foregoing, I am of the opinion that the issuance by the
Company of the Shares in connection with the exercise of stock options properly
granted under the Plan has been validly authorized by all necessary corporate
action on the part of the Company and such Shares, upon exercise and payment
thereof in accordance with the terms of the Plan, will be duly and validly
issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable.

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

Please be advised that I am a member of the Bar of the State of Florida and am
not licensed to practice law in any other jurisdiction. This opinion may not,
without my prior written consent, be used or relied upon by any other person
other than the addressee.

Very truly yours,

/s/ MICHAEL J. SMITH
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Michael J. Smith
General Counsel