Property, plant and equipment - Narratives (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciation	$ 14,947,000	$ 13,183,000	$ 28,542,000	$ 26,127,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,163,975,000		1,163,975,000		$ 1,074,676,000
Impairment of property, plant and equipment	0	0	8,216,000	0
Interest costs capitalized	0	$ 0	0	$ 0
Belmond Road to Mandalay
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Impairment of property, plant and equipment	7,124,000
Belmond Northern Belle
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Impairment of property, plant and equipment	1,092,000
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, net	199,898,000		199,898,000		201,861,000
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Charleston Center LLC
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, net	$ 199,898,000		$ 199,898,000		$ 201,861,000