Statements of Consolidated Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 594,081	$ 538,952	$ 549,355
Expenses:
Cost of services	267,891	242,385	248,322
Selling, general and administrative	227,270	207,684	213,799
Depreciation and amortization	48,740	43,753	43,633
Impairment of goodwill	0	2,055	11,907
Impairment of other intangible assets, other assets and property, plant and equipment	36,430	3,837	8,153
Total operating costs and expenses	580,331	499,714	525,814
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment and capital lease	0	1,514	16,544
Earnings from operations	13,750	40,752	40,085
Gain on extinguishment of debt	3,517	0	0
Interest income	1,067	1,065	2,365
Interest expense	(34,326)	(30,862)	(42,549)
Foreign currency, net	1,000	(2,854)	(4,538)
Earnings/(losses) before income taxes and earnings from unconsolidated companies, net of tax	(14,992)	8,101	(4,637)
Provision for income taxes	(17,628)	(21,651)	(19,611)
Losses before earnings from unconsolidated companies, net of tax	(32,620)	(13,550)	(24,248)
Earnings from unconsolidated companies, net of tax provision of $1,691, $5,771 and $2,270	6,442	2,124	4,357
Losses from continuing operations	(26,178)	(11,426)	(19,891)
Net earnings/(losses) from discontinued operations, net of tax provision/(benefit) of $(3,911), $1,618, and $(3,166)	(5,318)	4,538	(67,705)
Net losses	(31,496)	(6,888)	(87,596)
Net earnings attributable to non-controlling interests	(63)	(173)	(184)
Net losses attributable to Orient-Express Hotels Ltd.	$ (31,559)	$ (7,061)	$ (87,780)
Basic earnings per share
Net earnings/(losses) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.254)	$ (0.111)	$ (0.194)
Net earnings/(losses) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.052)	$ 0.044	$ (0.660)
Basic net earnings/(losses) per share attributable to Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. (in dollars per share)	$ (0.307)	$ (0.069)	$ (0.856)
Diluted earnings per share
Net earnings/(losses) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.254)	$ (0.111)	$ (0.194)
Net earnings/(losses) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.052)	$ 0.044	$ (0.660)
Diluted net earnings/(losses) per share attributable to Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. (in dollars per share)	$ (0.307)	$ (0.069)	$ (0.856)
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0