Operating Segments (Adjusted for EBITDA) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	$ 50,270,000	$ 40,124,000
Asset write-down charges	3,044,000	4,401,000
Acquisition and integration costs	1,680,000	554,000
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	139,400,000	137,273,000
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments	2,550,000	0
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs	137,472,000	126,686,000
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations	7,068,000	0
Interest income	(354,000)	(171,000)
Other income (expense)	1,077,000	606,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	6,695,000	(817,000)
Stock-based compensation expense	11,158,000	10,665,000
Adjusted EBITDA	360,060,000	319,321,000
CCUSA [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	48,145,000	39,532,000
Asset write-down charges	3,033,000	4,357,000
Acquisition and integration costs	1,652,000	554,000
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	131,641,000	129,976,000
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments	2,550,000	0
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs	137,459,000	126,361,000
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations	7,068,000	0
Interest income	(197,000)	(70,000)
Other income (expense)	(4,287,000)	(5,013,000)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	6,174,000	(1,369,000)
Stock-based compensation expense	9,035,000	9,496,000
Adjusted EBITDA	342,273,000	303,824,000
CCAL [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	2,125,000	592,000
Asset write-down charges	11,000	44,000
Acquisition and integration costs	28,000	0
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	7,759,000	7,297,000
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments	0	0
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs	5,337,000	5,942,000
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations	0	0
Interest income	(157,000)	(101,000)
Other income (expense)	40,000	2,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	521,000	552,000
Stock-based compensation expense	2,123,000	1,169,000
Adjusted EBITDA	17,787,000	15,497,000
Elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	0	0
Asset write-down charges	0	0
Acquisition and integration costs	0	0
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	0	0
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments	0	0
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs	(5,324,000)	(5,617,000)
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations	0	0
Interest income	0	0
Other income (expense)	5,324,000	5,617,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense	0	0
Adjusted EBITDA	$ 0	$ 0