Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 ship	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014 ship	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Impact of voyage proration change, increase in Operating and Net Income	$ 36,800,000	$ 16,300,000							$ 53,200,000
EPS impact of voyage proration change, increase (in dollars per share)									$ 0.24
Gross amount of port costs included in passenger ticket revenues									546,600,000	494,200,000	459,800,000
Number of Cruise Ships	43								43
Operating income	119,344,000	529,462,000	195,587,000	97,466,000	74,969,000	444,209,000	113,338,000	165,632,000	941,859,000	798,148,000	403,110,000
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50	$ 2.20	$ 0.62	$ 0.12	$ 0.03	$ 1.66	$ 0.11	$ 0.35	$ 3.45	$ 2.16	$ 0.08
Net income	109,768,000	490,248,000	137,673,000	26,457,000	7,018,000	365,701,000	24,747,000	76,226,000	764,146,000	473,692,000	18,287,000
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 2.19	$ 0.62	$ 0.12	$ 0.03	$ 1.65	$ 0.11	$ 0.35	$ 3.43	$ 2.14	$ 0.08
Exchange gains (losses) recorded in other income (expense)									49,500,000	13,400,000	(11,800,000)
Exposure under foreign currency forward contracts, foreign currency collar options, fuel call options, interest rate and fuel swap agreements					92,500,000					92,500,000
Document Fiscal Year Focus									2014
Cash Flow Statement
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Reclassification to conform to current year presentation										1,800,000	(500,000)
Balance Sheet Statement
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Reclassification to conform to current year presentation										24,300,000
Ships
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life									30 years
Projected residual value	15.00%								15.00%
Ships | Lower Limit
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Drydock services period									30 months
Ships | Upper Limit
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Drydock services period									60 months
Ships in Last Third of Useful Life
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life									35 years
Projected residual value	10.00%								10.00%
Number of Cruise Ships	5								5
Operating income										11,000,000
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)										$ 0.05
Net income										11,000,000
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)										$ 0.05
Media advertising
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Advertising costs									205,200,000	205,800,000	200,900,000
Brochure, production and direct mail costs
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Advertising costs									$ 136,700,000	$ 137,100,000	$ 130,400,000