Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (Lease Out And Lease Back Type Transactions, USD $) In Millions	1 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2011	Aug. 31, 2011
Lease Out And Lease Back Type Transactions
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Voluntarily unwound amount of contingent liability transactions	$ 87
Estimated contingent obligations		421
Estimated termination payment in the event that Carnival Corporation were to default on its contingent obligations and assuming performance by all other participants		61
Required standby letter of credit if Carnival Corporation's credit rating falls below BBB or, alternatively, provide mortgages for this aggregate amount on these two ships		$ 46

Reflects the estimated amount of loss from the specified contingency as of the balance sheet date.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 5
-Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14435-108349

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14557-108349

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyEstimateOfPossibleLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant