CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Passenger ticket revenues	$ 1,893,152	$ 1,899,956	$ 4,892,760	$ 4,794,653
Onboard and other revenues	676,392	663,785	1,880,618	1,792,145
Total revenues	2,569,544	2,563,741	6,773,378	6,586,798
Cruise operating expenses:
Commissions, transportation and other	409,597	400,933	1,060,176	1,060,391
Onboard and other	157,041	159,887	395,472	399,739
Payroll and related	210,764	214,081	636,861	671,955
Food	126,223	125,732	369,198	371,759
Fuel	160,752	178,772	508,914	531,283
Other operating	253,892	260,718	780,257	857,161
Total cruise operating expenses	1,318,269	1,340,123	3,750,878	3,892,288
Marketing, selling and administrative expenses	273,637	259,327	874,957	852,435
Depreciation and amortization expenses	240,150	229,328	710,836	661,712
Operating Income	737,488	734,963	1,436,707	1,180,363
Other income (expense):
Interest income	4,693	6,472	16,756	14,875
Interest expense, net of interest capitalized	(73,233)	(82,610)	(230,182)	(226,803)
Equity investment income	85,120	46,539	120,359	94,832
Other expense (including a $21.7 million loss related to the first quarter 2016 elimination of the Pullmantur reporting lag)	(1,226)	(12,107)	(6,546)	(40,965)
Total other income (expense)	15,354	(41,706)	(99,613)	(158,061)
Net Income	$ 752,842	$ 693,257	$ 1,337,094	$ 1,022,302
Earnings per Share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 3.51	$ 3.23	$ 6.22	$ 4.74
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 3.49	$ 3.21	$ 6.19	$ 4.72
Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	214,694	214,819	214,882	215,663
Diluted (in shares)	215,824	215,667	215,905	216,575
Comprehensive Income
Net Income	$ 752,842	$ 693,257	$ 1,337,094	$ 1,022,302
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	5,889	4,043	14,210	8,423
Change in defined benefit plans	(1,990)	(5,051)	(6,280)	(12,148)
Gain on cash flow derivative hedges	230,245	95,536	381,660	254,624
Total other comprehensive income	234,144	94,528	389,590	250,899
Comprehensive Income	$ 986,986	$ 787,785	$ 1,726,684	$ 1,273,201