CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Passenger ticket revenues		$ 6,313,170	$ 6,149,323	$ 6,058,821
Onboard and other revenues		2,464,675	2,347,078	2,240,253
Total revenues		8,777,845	8,496,401	8,299,074
Cruise operating expenses:
Commissions, transportation and other		1,363,170	1,349,677	1,400,778
Onboard and other		495,552	493,558	553,104
Payroll and related		852,990	882,891	861,775
Food		492,857	485,673	480,009
Fuel		681,118	713,676	795,801
Other operating		1,010,892	1,090,064	1,007,926
Total cruise operating expenses		4,896,579	5,015,539	5,099,393
Marketing, selling and administrative expenses		1,186,016	1,108,742	1,086,504
Depreciation and amortization expenses		951,194	894,915	827,008
Impairment of Pullmantur related assets		0	0	411,267
Total operating costs		7,033,789	7,019,196	7,424,172
Operating Income		1,744,056	1,477,205	874,902
Other income (expense):
Interest income		30,101	20,856	12,025
Interest expense, net of interest capitalized		(299,982)	(307,370)	(277,725)
Equity investment income		156,247	128,350	81,026
Other expense	[1]	(5,289)	(35,653)	(24,445)
Total other income (expense)		(118,923)	(193,817)	(209,119)
Net Income		$ 1,625,133	$ 1,283,388	$ 665,783
Basic Earnings per Share:
Net income (in dollars per share)		$ 7.57	$ 5.96	$ 3.03
Diluted Earnings per Share:
Net income (in dollars per share)		$ 7.53	$ 5.93	$ 3.02
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income		$ 1,625,133	$ 1,283,388	$ 665,783
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments		17,307	2,362	(30,152)
Change in defined benefit plans		(5,583)	(1,636)	4,760
Gain (loss) on cash flow derivative hedges		570,495	411,223	(406,047)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		582,219	411,949	(431,439)
Comprehensive Income		$ 2,207,352	1,695,337	234,344
Loss from elimination of reporting lag of subsidiary			$ (21,700)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)				$ 12,000

[1] Including a $21.7 million loss related to the 2016 elimination of the Pullmantur reporting lag and a net deferred tax benefit of $12.0 million related to the 2015 Pullmantur impairment.