Operating Segments (Adjusted for EBITDA) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015		Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	$ 125,112,000		$ 102,793,000
Asset write-down charges	8,623,000		2,733,000
Acquisition and integration costs	2,019,000		5,659,000
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	258,060,000		250,191,000
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments	5,174,000		3,895,000
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs	134,439,000		146,400,000
Interest income	(109,000)		(173,000)
Other income (expense)	230,000		2,736,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	3,282,000		(188,000)
Stock-based compensation expense	17,424,000		12,937,000
Adjusted EBITDA	554,254,000	[1]	526,983,000	[1]
CCUSA [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	114,785,000		96,909,000
Asset write-down charges	8,555,000		2,636,000
Acquisition and integration costs	2,016,000		5,659,000
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	251,806,000		245,176,000
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments	5,174,000		3,895,000
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs	134,439,000		146,400,000
Interest income	(56,000)		(114,000)
Other income (expense)	(2,827,000)		(947,000)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(1,434,000)		(3,040,000)
Stock-based compensation expense	16,842,000		11,956,000
Adjusted EBITDA	529,300,000	[1]	508,530,000	[1]
CCAL [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	10,327,000		5,884,000
Asset write-down charges	68,000		97,000
Acquisition and integration costs	3,000		0
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	6,254,000		5,015,000
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments	0		0
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs	3,051,000		3,683,000
Interest income	(53,000)		(59,000)
Other income (expense)	6,000		0
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	4,716,000		2,852,000
Stock-based compensation expense	582,000		981,000
Adjusted EBITDA	24,954,000	[1]	18,453,000	[1]
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	(3,051,000)	[2]	(3,683,000)	[2]
Interest income	0		0
Other income (expense)	3,051,000	[2]	3,683,000	[2]
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0		0
Stock-based compensation expense	0		0
Adjusted EBITDA	$ 0	[1]	$ 0	[1]

[1] Text selection found with no content.

[2] Elimination of inter-company borrowings and related interest expense.