CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Operating Activities
Net income	$ 1,283,388	$ 665,783	$ 764,146
Adjustments:
Depreciation and amortization	894,915	827,008	772,445
Impairment of Pullmantur related assets	0	411,267	0
Net deferred income tax expense (benefit)	2,608	(10,001)	(41,003)
Share-based 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
Loss on sale of property and equipment	0	0	17,401
Loss on derivative instruments not designated as hedges	45,670	59,162	48,637
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Decrease in trade and other receivables, net	4,759	63,102	100,095
(Increase) decrease in inventories	(1,679)	1,197	26,254
Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and other assets	11,519	(2,262)	21,234
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable	29,564	(25,278)	(40,651)
Increase (decrease) in accrued interest	7,841	(10,749)	(53,951)
Increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities	20,718	33,859	62,019
Increase (decrease) in customer deposits	188,632	(92,849)	14,885
Dividends received from unconsolidated affiliates	75,942	33,338	5,814
Other, net	(4,291)	(14,411)	16,965
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,516,690	1,946,366	1,743,759
Investing Activities
Purchases of property and equipment	(2,494,363)	(1,613,340)	(1,811,398)
Cash paid on settlement of derivative financial instruments	(213,202)	(178,597)	(68,098)
Investments in and loans to unconsolidated affiliates	(9,155)	(56,163)	(188,595)
Cash received on loans to unconsolidated affiliates	38,213	124,253	76,167
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	0	0	220,000
Other, net	(46,385)	(19,128)	1,546
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,724,892)	(1,742,975)	(1,770,378)
Financing Activities
Debt proceeds	7,338,560	4,399,501	4,153,958
Debt issuance costs	(88,241)	(68,020)	(72,974)
Repayments of debt	(6,365,570)	(4,118,553)	(3,724,218)
Purchase of treasury stock	(299,960)	(200,000)	(236,074)
Dividends paid	(346,487)	(280,212)	(198,952)
Proceeds from exercise of common stock options	2,258	11,252	70,879
Cash received on settlement of derivative financial instruments	0	0	22,835
Other, net	3,249	2,520	2,026
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	243,809	(253,512)	17,480
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(24,569)	(17,555)	(6,307)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	11,038	(67,676)	(15,446)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	121,565	189,241	204,687
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	132,603	121,565	189,241
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest, net of amount capitalized	256,775	248,611	276,933
Non-Cash Investing Activities
Notes receivable issued upon sale of property and equipment	213,042	$ 0	$ 0
Divestiture of Pullmantur Holdings	$ 26,000