Operating Segments (Adjusted for EBITDA) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	$ 117,084,000	$ 31,014,000	$ 167,354,000	$ 71,138,000
Asset write-down charges	3,646,000	6,205,000	6,690,000	10,606,000
Acquisition and integration costs	7,495,000	490,000	9,175,000	1,044,000
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	152,482,000	138,191,000	291,882,000	275,464,000
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments	3,893,000	0	6,443,000	0
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs	144,940,000	126,483,000	282,412,000	253,169,000
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations	7,518,000	0	14,586,000	0
Interest income	(382,000)	(208,000)	(736,000)	(379,000)
Other income (expense)	2,249,000	4,098,000	3,326,000	4,704,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(68,432,000)	5,755,000	(61,737,000)	4,938,000
Stock-based compensation expense	8,024,000	7,867,000	19,182,000	18,532,000
Adjusted EBITDA	378,517,000	319,895,000	738,577,000	639,216,000
CCUSA [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	111,929,000	30,251,000	160,074,000	69,783,000
Asset write-down charges	3,646,000	5,930,000	6,679,000	10,287,000
Acquisition and integration costs	7,469,000	490,000	9,121,000	1,044,000
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	144,793,000	130,488,000	276,434,000	260,464,000
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments	3,893,000	0	6,443,000	0
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs	144,940,000	126,484,000	282,399,000	252,845,000
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations	7,518,000	0	14,586,000	0
Interest income	(258,000)	(70,000)	(455,000)	(140,000)
Other income (expense)	(2,756,000)	(1,717,000)	(7,043,000)	(6,730,000)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(68,921,000)	5,184,000	(62,747,000)	3,815,000
Stock-based compensation expense	8,070,000	7,758,000	17,105,000	17,254,000
Adjusted EBITDA	360,323,000	304,798,000	702,596,000	608,622,000
CCAL [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	5,155,000	763,000	7,280,000	1,355,000
Asset write-down charges	0	275,000	11,000	319,000
Acquisition and integration costs	26,000	0	54,000	0
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	7,689,000	7,703,000	15,448,000	15,000,000
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments	0	0	0	0
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs	5,000,000	5,816,000	10,337,000	11,758,000
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations	0	0	0	0
Interest income	(124,000)	(138,000)	(281,000)	(239,000)
Other income (expense)	5,000	(2,000)	45,000	0
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	489,000	571,000	1,010,000	1,123,000
Stock-based compensation expense	(46,000)	109,000	2,077,000	1,278,000
Adjusted EBITDA	18,194,000	15,097,000	35,981,000	30,594,000
Elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Asset write-down charges	0	0	0	0
Acquisition and integration costs	0	0	0	0
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	0	0	0	0
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments	0	0	0	0
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs	(5,000,000)	(5,817,000)	(10,324,000)	(11,434,000)
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations	0	0	0	0
Interest income	0	0	0	0
Other income (expense)	5,000,000	5,817,000	10,324,000	11,434,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense		0	0	0
Adjusted EBITDA	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0