CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net (Loss) Income	$ (5,775,130)	$ 1,907,600	$ 1,815,792
Adjustments:
Depreciation and amortization	1,279,254	1,245,942	1,033,697
Impairment and credit losses	1,566,380	0	33,651
Net deferred income tax (benefit) expense	(8,791)	7,745	(2,679)
Loss (gain) on derivative instruments not designated as hedges	49,316	(1,431)	61,148
Share-based compensation expense	39,779	75,930	46,061
Equity investment loss (income)	213,286	(230,980)	(210,756)
Amortization of debt issuance costs	89,442	31,991	41,978
Amortization of debt discounts and premiums	66,776	31,616	11,004
Loss on extinguishment of secured senior term loan	41,109	6,326	0
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	(45,126)	18,400	0
Recognition of deferred currency translation adjustment loss on sale of assets	69,044	0	0
Gain on sale of unconsolidated affiliate	0	0	(13,680)
Recognition of deferred gain	0	0	(21,794)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Decrease (increase) in trade and other receivables, net	121,055	(9,898)	(9,573)
Decrease (increase) in inventories	27,077	(8,533)	(23,849)
Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and other assets	295,876	15,669	(71,770)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable	(133,815)	75,281	91,737
Increase (decrease) in accrued interest	182,578	(4,460)	18,773
(Decrease) increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities	(180,479)	96,490	42,937
(Decrease) increase in customer deposits	(1,643,560)	280,139	385,990
Dividends received from unconsolidated affiliates	2,215	150,177	243,101
Other, net	12,061	28,362	7,371
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(3,731,653)	3,716,366	3,479,139
Investing Activities
Purchases of property and equipment	(1,965,131)	(3,024,663)	(3,660,028)
Cash received on settlement of derivative financial instruments	15,874	7,621	76,529
Cash paid on settlement of derivative financial instruments	(161,335)	(68,836)	(98,074)
Investments in and loans to unconsolidated affiliates	(100,609)	(25,569)	(27,172)
Cash received on loans to unconsolidated affiliates	21,086	32,870	124,238
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment	27,796	0	0
Proceeds from the sale of unconsolidated affiliate	0	0	13,215
Acquisition of Silversea Cruises, net of cash acquired	0	0	(916,135)
Other, net	(16,247)	(12,829)	(1,731)
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,178,566)	(3,091,406)	(4,489,158)
Financing Activities
Debt proceeds	13,547,189	3,525,564	8,590,740
Debt issuance costs	(374,715)	(50,348)	(81,959)
Repayments of debt	(3,845,133)	(4,060,244)	(6,963,511)
Proceeds from issuance of commercial paper notes	6,765,816	26,240,540	4,730,286
Repayments of commercial paper notes	(7,837,635)	(25,613,111)	(3,965,450)
Purchase of treasury stock	0	(99,582)	(575,039)
Dividends paid	(326,421)	(602,674)	(527,494)
Proceeds from common stock issuances	1,431,375	0	0
Other, net	(10,688)	(10,516)	(9,500)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	9,349,788	(670,371)	1,198,073
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	1,167	1,297	(20,314)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	3,440,736	(44,114)	167,740
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	243,738	287,852	120,112
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	3,684,474	243,738	287,852
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest, net of amount capitalized	418,164	246,312	252,466
Non-Cash Investing Activities
Contingent consideration for the acquisition of Silversea Cruises	0	0	44,000
Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued expenses and other liabilities	16,189	86,155	0
Notes receivable issued upon sale of property and equipment	53,419	0	0
Non-Cash Financing Activities
Acquisition of Silversea Cruises non-controlling interest	592,313	0	0
Termination of Silversea Cruises contingent consideration obligation	16,564	0	0
Common stock issuances pending cash settlement and included in trade receivables	$ 121,352	$ 0	$ 0