Segment Information - Selected Information for Cruise and Tour and Other Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2013		Aug. 31, 2012		Aug. 31, 2013		Aug. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 4,726		$ 4,684		$ 11,798		$ 11,804
Operating expenses	2,917		2,597		8,003		7,769
Selling and administrative	439		409		1,347		1,261
Depreciation and amortization	406		383		1,186		1,135
Ibero goodwill and trademark impairment charges	13		0		13		173
Operating income	951		1,295		1,249		1,466
North America Cruise Brands
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	2,975	[1]	2,934	[1]	7,212	[1]	7,186	[1]
Operating expenses	1,820	[1]	1,642	[1]	4,837	[1]	4,670	[1]
Selling and administrative	248	[1]	231	[1]	762	[1]	706	[1]
Depreciation and amortization	235	[1]	227	[1]	691	[1]	669	[1]
Operating income	672	[1]	834	[1]	922	[1]	1,141	[1]
Europe Australia And Asia Cruise Brands
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,704		1,657		4,464		4,462
Operating expenses	1,133	[2]	956		3,147	[2]	3,063
Selling and administrative	163		153		494		467
Depreciation and amortization	156		140		449		417
Ibero goodwill and trademark impairment charges	13		0		13		173
Operating income	239		408		361	[1]	342	[1]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	176
Cruise Support
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	23		22		73		64
Operating expenses	(2)		(5)		34		4
Selling and administrative	25		23		85		82
Depreciation and amortization	7		6		18		19
Operating income	(7)		(2)		(64)		(41)
Tour and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	141	[1]	158	[1]	177	[1]	186	[1]
Operating expenses	83	[1]	91	[1]	113	[1]	126	[1]
Selling and administrative	3	[1]	2	[1]	6	[1]	6	[1]
Depreciation and amortization	8	[1]	10	[1]	28	[1]	30	[1]
Operating income	47	[1]	55	[1]	30	[1]	24	[1]
Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(117)	[1]	(87)	[1]	(128)	[1]	(94)	[1]
Operating expenses	(117)	[1]	(87)	[1]	(128)	[1]	(94)	[1]
Selling and administrative	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Depreciation and amortization	0	[1]	0	[1]		[1]	0	[1]
Operating income	$ 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.”

[2] Includes $176 million of ship impairment charges related to two smaller Costa ships.