CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Passenger ticket revenues	$ 1,418,223	$ 1,378,167
Onboard and other revenues	590,337	539,628
Total revenues	2,008,560	1,917,795
Cruise operating expenses:
Commissions, transportation and other	310,248	324,890
Onboard and other	105,994	103,654
Payroll and related	215,735	227,441
Food	121,211	121,510
Fuel	177,414	175,862
Other operating	245,222	288,221
Total cruise operating expenses	1,175,824	1,241,578
Marketing, selling and administrative expenses	317,465	302,326
Depreciation and amortization expenses	235,749	210,764
Operating Income	279,522	163,127
Other income (expense):
Interest income	6,252	2,720
Interest expense, net of interest capitalized	(80,317)	(65,446)
Equity investment income	11,880	21,026
Other expense (including a $21.7 million loss related to the 2016 elimination of the Pullmantur reporting lag)	(2,611)	(22,287)
Total other income (expense)	(64,796)	(63,987)
Net Income	$ 214,726	$ 99,140
Earnings per Share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.00	$ 0.46
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.99	$ 0.46
Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	214,870	216,914
Diluted (in shares)	215,813	217,869
Comprehensive Income
Net Income	$ 214,726	$ 99,140
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	2,342	6,648
Change in defined benefit plans	(641)	(3,512)
Gain on cash flow derivative hedges	22,461	2,737
Total other comprehensive income	24,162	5,873
Comprehensive Income	$ 238,888	$ 105,013