CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Passenger ticket revenues	$ 1,899,956	$ 1,873,942	$ 4,794,653	$ 4,688,189
Onboard and other revenues	663,785	649,158	1,792,145	1,708,832
Total revenues	2,563,741	2,523,100	6,586,798	6,397,021
Cruise operating expenses:
Commissions, transportation and other	400,933	413,156	1,060,391	1,093,409
Onboard and other	159,887	175,214	399,739	438,558
Payroll and related	214,081	217,627	671,955	647,788
Food	125,732	122,124	371,759	361,317
Fuel	178,772	199,848	531,283	607,689
Other operating	260,718	259,057	857,161	777,291
Total cruise operating expenses	1,340,123	1,387,026	3,892,288	3,926,052
Marketing, selling and administrative expenses	257,430	256,060	845,808	817,040
Depreciation and amortization expenses	229,328	210,742	661,712	617,678
Asset Impairment Charges	0	411,267	0	411,267
Restructuring charges	1,897	0	6,627	0
Operating Income	734,963	258,005	1,180,363	624,984
Other income (expense):
Interest income	6,472	1,735	14,875	8,244
Interest expense, net of interest capitalized	(82,610)	(66,819)	(226,803)	(213,598)
Other income (including a $21.7 million loss related to the 2016 elimination of the Pullmantur reporting lag and including in 2015 a net deferred tax benefit of $12.0 million related to the Pullmantur impairment)	34,432	35,866	53,867	39,354
Total other income (expense)	(41,706)	(29,218)	(158,061)	(166,000)
Net Income	$ 693,257	$ 228,787	$ 1,022,302	$ 458,984
Earnings per Share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 3.23	$ 1.04	$ 4.74	$ 2.09
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 3.21	$ 1.03	$ 4.72	$ 2.08
Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	214,819	219,963	215,663	219,835
Diluted (in shares)	215,667	221,137	216,575	220,979
Comprehensive Income
Net Income	$ 693,257	$ 228,787	$ 1,022,302	$ 458,984
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	4,043	(4,191)	8,423	(23,994)
Change in defined benefit plans	(5,051)	3,318	(12,148)	5,567
Gain (loss) on cash flow derivative hedges	95,536	(222,492)	254,624	(280,968)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	94,528	(223,365)	250,899	(299,395)
Comprehensive Income	$ 787,785	$ 5,422	$ 1,273,201	$ 159,589