Long Term Debt (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	$ 8,495,853		$ 9,150,116
Less - current portion	(638,891)		(1,198,929)
Long-term portion	7,856,962		7,951,187
Unsecured revolving credit facility LIBOR plus 2.00% due 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	523,000		545,000
Unsecured revolving credit facility LIBOR plus 2.75% due 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	67,000
Unsecured senior notes and senior debentures, 6.88% to 11.88%, due 2013 through 2016, 2018 and 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	2,059,510		2,548,722
Unsecured senior notes 5.63% due 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	1,356,312		1,427,322
Unsecured term loan LIBOR plus 2.75% due 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	100,000		100,000
Unsecured term loan LIBOR plus 1.25% due through 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	32,085		64,238
Unsecured term loan 4.20% due through 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	122,143		203,571
Unsecured term loan 4.64% due through 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	210,358		294,500
Unsecured term loan LIBOR plus 0.62% due through 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	265,000		340,714
Unsecured term loan LIBOR plus 0.45% due through 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	389,360		432,622
Unsecured term loan 5.41%, due through 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	348,142	[1]	385,000	[1]
Unsecured term loan LIBOR plus 2.10% due through 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	350,000		385,000
Unsecured term loan EURIBOR plus 1.58% due through 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	172,463	[1]	195,598	[1]
Unsecured term loan LIBOR plus 0.50% due through 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	437,083		480,791
Unsecured term loan LIBOR plus 0.37% due through 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	495,311		542,483
Unsecured term loan LIBOR plus 2.10% due through 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	844,529	[2]	1,130,000	[2]
Unsecured term loan LIBOR plus 0.40% due through 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	631,959
Unsecured term loan LIBOR plus 2.5% due through 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	6,343
Unsecured term loan 7.0% due through 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt			6,715
Unsecured term loan LIBOR plus 3.75% due through 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	25,173
Unsecured term loan LIBOR plus 3.75% due through 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt			9,193
Capital lease obligations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt	$ 60,082		$ 58,647

[1] Corresponds to Oasis of the Seas unsecured term loan. With respect to 60% of the financing, the lenders have the ability to exit the facility on the sixth anniversary of the loan.

[2] Corresponds to Allure of the Seas unsecured term loan. With respect to 100% of the financing, the lenders have the ability to exit the facility on the seventh anniversary of the loan.