CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Passenger ticket revenues	$ 1,873,942	$ 1,786,746	$ 4,688,189	$ 4,590,048
Onboard and other revenues	649,158	602,016	1,708,832	1,665,981
Total revenues	2,523,100	2,388,762	6,397,021	6,256,029
Cruise operating expenses:
Commissions, transportation and other	413,156	396,916	1,093,409	1,068,961
Onboard and other	175,214	182,658	438,558	456,296
Payroll and related	217,627	214,260	647,788	634,232
Food	122,124	120,908	361,317	358,172
Fuel	199,848	230,818	607,689	718,081
Other operating	259,057	281,322	777,291	825,794
Total cruise operating expenses	1,387,026	1,426,882	3,926,052	4,061,536
Marketing, selling and administrative expenses	256,060	239,662	817,040	790,957
Depreciation and amortization expenses	210,742	192,448	617,678	579,063
Impairment of Pullmantur related assets	411,267	0	411,267	0
Restructuring charges	0	308	0	1,958
Operating Income	258,005	529,462	624,984	822,515
Other income (expense):
Interest income	1,735	2,117	8,244	8,023
Interest expense, net of interest capitalized	(66,819)	(60,100)	(213,598)	(193,931)
Other income (including in 2015 a net deferred tax benefit of $12.0 million related to the Pullmantur impairment)	35,866	18,769	39,354	17,771
Total other income (expense)	(29,218)	(39,214)	(166,000)	(168,137)
Net Income	$ 228,787	$ 490,248	$ 458,984	$ 654,378
Earnings per Share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.04	$ 2.20	$ 2.09	$ 2.95
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.03	$ 2.19	$ 2.08	$ 2.93
Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	219,963	222,523	219,835	222,007
Diluted (in shares)	221,137	223,859	220,979	223,351
Comprehensive Income
Net Income	$ 228,787	$ 490,248	$ 458,984	$ 654,378
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(4,191)	(18,482)	(23,994)	(17,845)
Change in defined benefit plans	3,318	(1,451)	5,567	(5,536)
Loss on cash flow derivative hedges	(222,492)	(249,626)	(280,968)	(323,179)
Total other comprehensive loss	(223,365)	(269,559)	(299,395)	(346,560)
Comprehensive Income	$ 5,422	$ 220,689	$ 159,589	$ 307,818