Fair value measurements (Details) - USD ($)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impairment of goodwill		$ 0	$ 9,796,000	$ 0
Impairment of property, plant and equipment	$ 0	1,007,000	0	1,211,000
Property, plant and equipment
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impairment of property, plant and equipment		1,007,000		1,211,000
Belmond Jimbaran Puri, Belmond La Residence Phou Vao, and Belmond Northern Belle
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill, fair value disclosure			5,698,000
Impairment of goodwill			5,698,000
Belmond Grand Hotel Europe
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impairment of goodwill		4,098,000
Belmond Grand Hotel Europe
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill, fair value disclosure			14,148,000
Impairment of goodwill			4,098,000
Fair value measurements, non-recurring
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill, fair value disclosure			10,050,000
Property, plant and equipment, fair value disclosure		0		2,488,000
Fair value measurements, non-recurring | Belmond Jimbaran Puri, Belmond La Residence Phou Vao, and Belmond Northern Belle
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill, fair value disclosure			0
Fair value measurements, non-recurring | Belmond Grand Hotel Europe
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill, fair value disclosure			$ 10,050,000
Belmond Orcaella | Property, plant and equipment
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impairment of property, plant and equipment		1,007,000
Belmond Orcaella | Carrying value prior to impairment
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, fair value disclosure		1,007,000
Belmond Orcaella | Fair value measurements, non-recurring
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, fair value disclosure		$ 0
Great South Pacific Express
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impairment of property, plant and equipment				1,211,000
Great South Pacific Express | Property, plant and equipment
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impairment of property, plant and equipment				1,211,000
Great South Pacific Express | Carrying value prior to impairment
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, fair value disclosure				3,699,000
Great South Pacific Express | Fair value measurements, non-recurring
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, fair value disclosure				$ 2,488,000