CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Passenger ticket revenues	$ 5,722,718	$ 5,594,595	$ 5,525,904
Onboard and other revenues	2,237,176	2,093,429	2,011,359
Total revenues	7,959,894	7,688,024	7,537,263
Cruise operating expenses:
Commissions, transportation and other	1,314,595	1,289,255	1,299,713
Onboard and other	568,615	529,453	535,501
Payroll and related	841,737	828,198	825,676
Food	469,653	449,649	424,308
Fuel	924,414	909,691	764,758
Other operating	1,186,256	1,151,188	1,092,651
Total cruise operating expenses	5,305,270	5,157,434	4,942,607
Marketing, selling and administrative expenses	1,044,819	1,011,543	960,602
Depreciation and amortization expenses	754,711	730,493	702,426
Impairment of Pullmantur related assets		385,444
Restructuring and related impairment charges	56,946
Total operating costs	7,161,746	7,284,914	6,605,635
Operating Income	798,148	403,110	931,628
Other income (expense):
Interest income	13,898	21,331	25,318
Interest expense, net of interest capitalized	(332,422)	(355,785)	(382,416)
Extinguishment of unsecured senior notes	(4,206)	(7,501)
Other (expense) income (including $28.5 million net deferred tax expense related to impairments in 2012)	(1,726)	(42,868)	32,891
Total other income (expense)	(324,456)	(384,823)	(324,207)
Net Income	473,692	18,287	607,421
Basic Earnings per Share:
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 2.16	$ 0.08	$ 2.80
Diluted Earnings per Share:
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 2.14	$ 0.08	$ 2.77
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income	473,692	18,287	607,421
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	1,529	(2,764)	(18,200)
Change in defined benefit plans	10,829	(4,567)	(6,698)
Change related to cash flow derivative hedges	127,829	(51,247)	(76,106)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	140,187	(58,578)	(101,004)
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	$ 613,879	$ (40,291)	$ 506,417