Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Accounting

Basis for Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements

The unaudited consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Estimates are required for the preparation of financial statements in accordance with these principles. Actual results could differ from these estimates. See Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 for a discussion of our significant accounting policies.

All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. We consolidate entities over which we have control, usually evidenced by a direct ownership interest of greater than 50%, and variable interest entities where we are determined to be the primary beneficiary. See Note 6. Goodwill and Other Assets for further information regarding our variable interest entities. For affiliates we do not control but over which we have significant influence on financial and operating policies, usually evidenced by a direct ownership interest from 20% to 50%, the investment is accounted for using the equity method. We consolidate the operating results of Pullmantur and CDF Croisières de France on a two-month lag to allow for more timely preparation of our consolidated financial statements. On March 31, 2014, Pullmantur sold the majority of its interest in its non-core businesses. These non-core businesses included Pullmantur’s land-based tour operations, travel agency and 49% interest in its air business. Consistent with our Pullmantur two-month lag reporting period, we reported the impact of the sale during the second quarter of 2014. See Note 11. Restructuring Charges for further discussion on the Pullmantur sales transaction. No material events or other transactions affecting Pullmantur or CDF Croisières de France have occurred during the two-month lag period of August and September 2014 that would require further disclosure or adjustment to our consolidated financial statements as of and for the quarter ended September 30, 2014.

We believe the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all normal recurring accruals necessary for a fair presentation. Our revenues are seasonal and results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2014, amended guidance was issued regarding the accounting for service concession arrangements. The new guidance defines a service concession as an arrangement between a public-sector entity grantor and an operating entity under which the operating entity operates and maintains the grantor’s infrastructure for a specified period of time and in return receives payments from the grantor and or third party user for use of the infrastructure. The guidance prohibits the operating entity from accounting for a service concession arrangement as a lease and from recording the infrastructure used in the arrangement within property plant and equipment. This guidance must be applied using a modified retrospective approach and will be effective for our interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this newly issued guidance is not expected to have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.

In April 2014, amended guidance was issued changing the requirements for reporting discontinued operations and enhancing the disclosures in this area. The new guidance requires a disposal of a component of an entity or a group of components of an entity to be reported in discontinued operations if the disposal represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity's operations and financial results. The guidance will be effective prospectively for our interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014. The guidance will impact the reporting and disclosures of future disposals, if any.

In May 2014, amended guidance was issued to clarify the principles used to recognize revenue for all entities. The guidance is based on the principle that revenue should be recognized to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The standard also requires more detailed disclosures and provides additional guidance for transactions that were not comprehensively addressed in the prior accounting guidance. This guidance must be applied using one of two retrospective application methods and will be effective for our interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is not permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this newly issued guidance to our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2014, guidance was issued requiring management to evaluate, at each annual and interim reporting period, whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the entity's ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date the financial statements are issued and provide related disclosures. This guidance will be effective for our annual reporting period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this newly issued guidance is not expected to have an impact to our consolidated financial statements.

Other

Other

Revenues and expenses include port costs that vary with guest head counts. The amounts of such port costs included in passenger ticket revenues on a gross basis were $232.7 million and $135.8 million for the third quarters of 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $494.5 million and $368.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.