Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Impact of voyage proration change, increase in Operating and Net Income			$ 53,200
Gross amount of port costs included in passenger ticket revenues	$ 570,300	$ 561,100	546,600
Exchange gains (losses) recorded in other income (expense)	39,800	34,600	49,500
Exposure under foreign currency forward contracts, foreign currency collar options, fuel call options, interest rate and fuel swap agreements		4,800
Employee stock-base compensation expense	32,659	36,073	26,116
Equity investment income	128,350	81,026	51,640
Amortization of debt issuance costs	$ 52,795	52,153	54,993
Ships
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	30 years
Projected residual value	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
Media advertising
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Advertising costs	$ 240,300	242,800	205,200
Brochure, production and direct mail costs
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Advertising costs	$ 120,800	127,100	136,700
Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement | Other Assets
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Debt issuance costs, net		139,800
Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement | Debt
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Debt issuance costs, net		139,800
Other, net (Cash Flows-Operating Activities) | Reclassification adjustment
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Employee stock-base compensation expense		36,100	26,100
Equity investment income		81,000	51,600
Amortization of debt issuance costs		27,100	26,600
Share-based Compensation Expense (Cash Flows-Operating Activities) | Reclassification adjustment
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Employee stock-base compensation expense		36,100	26,100
Equity Investment Income (Cash Flows-Operating Activities) | Reclassification adjustment
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Equity investment income		81,000	51,600
Amortization of Debt Issuance Costs (Cash Flows-Operating Activities) | Reclassification adjustment
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortization of debt issuance costs		27,100	26,600
Amortization of Debt Issuance Costs (Cash Flows-Operating Activities) | Reclassification adjustment from increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortization of debt issuance costs		7,900	8,500
Amortization of Debt Issuance Costs (Cash Flows-Operating Activities) | Reclassification adjustment from decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and other assets
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortization of debt issuance costs		17,200	19,800
Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and other assets (Cash Flows-Operating Activities) | Reclassification adjustment from decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and other assets
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortization of debt issuance costs		17,200	19,800
Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses and other liabilities (Cash Flows-Operating Activities) | Reclassification adjustment from increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortization of debt issuance costs		$ 7,900	$ 8,500