Segment Information - Selected Information for Cruise and Tour and Other Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	May 31, 2013		May 31, 2012		May 31, 2013		May 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 3,479		$ 3,538		$ 7,072		$ 7,120
Operating expenses	2,487		2,478		5,087		5,172
Selling and administrative	449		431		908		852
Depreciation and amortization	391		376		780		752
Ibero goodwill and trademark impairment charges	0		0		0		173
Operating income (loss)	152		253		297		171
North America Cruise Brands
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	2,113	[1]	2,170	[1]	4,237	[1]	4,252	[1]
Operating expenses	1,487	[1]	1,519	[1]	3,018	[1]	3,028	[1]
Selling and administrative	254	[1]	238	[1]	514	[1]	475	[1]
Depreciation and amortization	228	[1]	220	[1]	456	[1]	441	[1]
Ibero goodwill and trademark impairment charges	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Operating income (loss)	144	[1]	193	[1]	249	[1]	308	[1]
EAA Cruise Brands
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,327		1,338		2,760		2,804
Operating expenses	962		954		2,014		2,107
Selling and administrative	167		159		331		314
Depreciation and amortization	147		140		293		277
Ibero goodwill and trademark impairment charges	0		0		0		173
Operating income (loss)	51		85		122	[1]	(67)	[1]
Cruise Support
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	23		18		50		43
Operating expenses	33		(9)		36		9
Selling and administrative	26		32		59		59
Depreciation and amortization	6		6		12		14
Ibero goodwill and trademark impairment charges	0		0		0		0
Operating income (loss)	(42)		(11)		(57)		(39)
Tour and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	27	[1]	19	[1]	36	[1]	28	[1]
Operating expenses	16	[1]	21	[1]	30	[1]	35	[1]
Selling and administrative	2	[1]	2	[1]	4	[1]	4	[1]
Depreciation and amortization	10	[1]	10	[1]	19	[1]	20	[1]
Ibero goodwill and trademark impairment charges	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Operating income (loss)	(1)	[1]	(14)	[1]	(17)	[1]	(31)	[1]
Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(11)	[1]	(7)	[1]	(11)	[1]	(7)	[1]
Operating expenses	(11)	[1]	(7)	[1]	(11)	[1]	(7)	[1]
Selling and administrative	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Depreciation and amortization	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Ibero goodwill and trademark impairment charges	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Operating income (loss)	$ 0	[1]	$ 0	[1]	$ 0	[1]	$ 0	[1]

[1] A portion of the North America cruise brands’ segment revenues include revenues for the tour portion of a cruise when a land tour package is sold along with a cruise by Holland America Line and Princess. These intersegment tour revenues, which are included in our Tour and Other segment, are eliminated directly against the North America cruise brands’ segment revenues and operating expenses in the line “Intersegment elimination.”