Revenue recognition - Disaggregate Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	[1]	$ 576,836	$ 560,999	$ 549,824
Goods and services transferred at a point in time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue		193,566
Services transferred over time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue		383,270
Europe
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue		238,440
Europe | Goods and services transferred at a point in time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue		85,485
Europe | Services transferred over time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue		152,955
North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue		132,326
North America | Goods and services transferred at a point in time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue		57,648
North America | Services transferred over time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue		74,678
Rest of world
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue		122,163
Rest of world | Goods and services transferred at a point in time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue		44,923
Rest of world | Services transferred over time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue		77,240
Owned trains and cruises | Owned trains and cruises
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue		70,767
Owned trains and cruises | Owned trains and cruises | Goods and services transferred at a point in time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue		5,510
Owned trains and cruises | Owned trains and cruises | Services transferred over time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue		65,257
Part-owned/managed hotels | Part-owned hotels
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue		2,363
Part-owned/managed hotels | Part-owned hotels | Goods and services transferred at a point in time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue		0
Part-owned/managed hotels | Part-owned hotels | Services transferred over time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue		2,363
Part-owned/managed trains | Part-owned trains
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue		10,777
Part-owned/managed trains | Part-owned trains | Goods and services transferred at a point in time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue		0
Part-owned/managed trains | Part-owned trains | Services transferred over time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 10,777

[1] Includes revenue from related parties of $15,783,000, $15,668,000 and $15,458,000, respectively