Property, plant and equipment (Details) - USD ($)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property, plant and equipment at book value		$ 1,074,676,000	$ 1,078,361,000
Interest costs capitalized		0	0	$ 0
Impairment of property, plant and equipment	$ 0	1,007,000	0	1,211,000
Great South Pacific Express
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Impairment of property, plant and equipment				1,211,000
Belmond Orcaella
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Impairment of property, plant and equipment		1,007,000
Belmond Northern Belle
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property, plant and equipment at book value		4,332,000
Charleston Center LLC
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property, plant and equipment at book value		201,861,000	201,342,000
Charleston Center LLC | Charleston Center LLC
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property, plant and equipment at book value		201,861,000	201,342,000
Continuing operations
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciation expense		$ 51,835,000	$ 49,982,000	$ 51,629,000