CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Passenger ticket revenues	$ 1,507,468	$ 1,455,099	$ 2,814,247	$ 2,803,302
Onboard and other revenues	550,854	524,944	1,059,674	1,063,965
Total revenues	2,058,322	1,980,043	3,873,921	3,867,267
Cruise operating expenses:
Commissions, transportation and other	355,835	346,180	680,253	672,045
Onboard and other	147,105	150,606	263,344	273,638
Payroll and related	218,570	209,171	430,161	419,972
Food	119,407	119,184	239,193	237,264
Fuel	202,565	242,804	407,841	487,263
Other operating	272,927	262,729	518,234	544,472
Total cruise operating expenses	1,316,409	1,330,674	2,539,026	2,634,654
Marketing, selling and administrative expenses	274,148	260,988	560,980	551,295
Depreciation and amortization expenses	206,468	192,880	406,936	386,615
Restructuring charges	0	(86)	0	1,650
Operating Income	261,297	195,587	366,979	293,053
Other income (expense):
Interest income	2,772	2,630	6,509	5,906
Interest expense, net of interest capitalized	(76,620)	(65,260)	(146,779)	(133,831)
Other (expense) income	(2,482)	4,716	3,488	(998)
Total other income (expense)	(76,330)	(57,914)	(136,782)	(128,923)
Net Income	$ 184,967	$ 137,673	$ 230,197	$ 164,130
Earnings per Share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.84	$ 0.62	$ 1.05	$ 0.74
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.84	$ 0.62	$ 1.04	$ 0.74
Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	219,913	222,189	219,770	221,745
Diluted (in shares)	220,902	223,381	220,886	223,055
Comprehensive Income
Net Income	$ 184,967	$ 137,673	$ 230,197	$ 164,130
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	11,741	(1,833)	(19,803)	637
Change in defined benefit plans	3,742	(2,054)	2,249	(4,085)
Gain (loss) on cash flow derivative hedges	202,473	(20,638)	(58,476)	(73,553)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	217,956	(24,525)	(76,030)	(77,001)
Comprehensive Income	$ 402,923	$ 113,148	$ 154,167	$ 87,129