I sailed on 3 of the newest cruise ships from Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Celebrity and the best was also the biggest ship. Here's how they compare.

By Andrew Dixon January 28, 2023 10 mins read 139 Views

The Celebrity Apex.

Brittany Chang/Insider

I've sailed on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, Norwegian's Prima, and Celebrity's Apex.
The Wonder of the Seas is now my favorite ship with the Prima as a close second.
Here's how all of their staterooms, common spaces, food and beverage programs, and shows compared.

I've been on media sailings on four cruise ships across four cruise lines and one was the clear winner.

Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas cruise ship — Brittany Chang/Insider

Ironically, I'm not shy about my disdain for cruises.

The Celebrity Apex floating on the ocean — The Celebrity Apex.
Brittany Chang/Insider

I don't like feeling stuck and bored on a ship with nowhere to go.

Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Prima — Brittany Chang/Insider

I'm definitely a picky cruise goer. But only one ship fielded less complaints than the others.

Central Park aboard Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas — Brittany Chang/Insider

From 2021 to 2022, I sailed on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, Norwegian's Prima, Celebrity's Apex, and Margaritaville at Sea's Paradise.

A giant statue flip flop that says "Margaville at sea" — Brittany Chang/Insider

And the Wonder of the Seas mega cruise ship was by far my favorite vessel.

Whenever I go on a cruise, I judge my experience based on my stateroom, the common spaces and activities, the food and beverage program, and the nighttime entertainment.

A person getting food at a buffet. — Brittany Chang/Insider

Here's how all four ships compared to each other. And here's why the Wonder of the Seas is the only one I'll be recommending to traveling families.

Let's start with the staterooms. Despite my previous compliments, Royal Caribbean's mega-ship didn't have my favorite stateroom.

My balcony stateroom aboard Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas — Brittany Chang/Insider

The 1,188-foot-long mega vessel is currently the largest cruise ship in operation.

Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas water park — Brittany Chang/Insider

Its 2,867 staterooms can accommodate up to 7,084 guests.

However, my balcony stateroom left much to be desired.

It had all the bare essentials and minimal decor. There wasn't even a separate body wash and shampoo in the bathroom.

The poorly designed sink didn't catch all of the water while I washed my hands. And overall, the bathroom felt cramped.

At least the stateroom had the most storage I had ever seen. And the couch and bed were both pretty comfortable.

Plus, it’s hard to complain about these balcony views.

But at a starting rate of $1,400 for 2023 itineraries, I was hoping for some more decor and luxurious amenities.

However, I wasn't as disappointed by my stateroom aboard the Norwegian Prima.

Inside the family balcony stateroom on Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Prima — Brittany Chang/Insider

The 965-foot-long ship can accommodate 3,215 guests in its 1,646 staterooms.

I stayed in the 230-square-foot family-balcony stateroom during my four-night sailing.

And despite its small square footage, it felt like this hotel room at sea could've rivaled a Manhattan studio apartment.

There was plenty of storage. Not as much as my stateroom on the Wonder of the Seas but still more than I needed to use.

The ambient lighting provided a warm glow that made the hotel room at sea feel like home. And the bathroom was spacious and well-designed.

The amenities — like the couch, balcony, and desk — were about the same as Royal Caribbean's.

This hotel room at sea will start at $991 for spring 2023 five-to-seven-day round trips from New York City to Bermuda.

When I sailed on the Celebrity Apex in 2021, it was the cruise line's newest ship and my first time on a cruise as an adult.

The Celebrity Apex.

Brittany Chang/Insider

The 1,004-foot-long vessel can accommodate a little over 2,900 guests in its 1,467 staterooms.

lounge chairs facing the ocean — The Celebrity Apex.
Brittany Chang/Insider

I stayed in the 243-square-foot Infinite Veranda stateroom and was surprised by how spacious and plush the small room felt.

decorative pillows on a couch by the bed — The Infinite Veranda stateroom on the Celebrity Apex.
Brittany Chang/Insider

The veranda, lined with floor-to-ceiling windows, was the perfect private nook during sunny and breezy days out at sea.

a couch and table in front of two chairs and a small table in front of a glass wall overlooking the water — The Infinite Veranda stateroom on the Celebrity Apex.
Brittany Chang/Insider

The bed was one of the most comfortable I've slept on aboard a cruise ship.

the bedroom with windows that overlook the water — The Infinite Veranda stateroom on the Celebrity Apex.
Brittany Chang/Insider

And the bathroom was also fairly polished and spacious. I never felt too cramped. Overall, I have no complaints.

a bathroom with a sink, shelves, and towels — The Infinite Veranda stateroom on the Celebrity Apex.
Brittany Chang/Insider

When I sailed in 2021, a stay in the stateroom for 2022 sailings started at $1,440, making this stateroom the most expensive on the list.

the bed and living room in front of a glass wall — The Infinite Veranda stateroom on the Celebrity Apex.
Brittany Chang/Insider

Of all three staterooms, Norwegian Prima's balcony stateroom was my favorite with Celebrity Apex's as a close second.

Both were spacious, modern, and well designed despite having a compact square-footage.

a bed between two night stands — The Infinite Veranda stateroom on the Celebrity Apex.
Brittany Chang/Insider

But the Prima's warm ambient lights and splashes of color made the hotel room at sea a clear winner.

Onto the onboard activities and common spaces. This is where the Wonder of the Seas really shines.

It's evident the cruise ship catered to families. And given its size, it should be no surprise that this vessel had the most amenities and activities I'd ever seen aboard a vessel.

Almost every section of the ship — called "neighborhoods — catered to travelers of all ages in some way.

Listing all of these amenities and activities would take too long. But some standout neighborhoods include Central Park, a peaceful outdoor walkway lined with plants, shopping, and restaurants …

… and Boardwalk, another open-air neighborhood designed to look like a real boardwalk with a carousel, hot dog stand, and candy store.

And we can't forget about the all-important pool deck. The one on the Wonder of the Seas is a colorful paradise for families.

There are three water slides, an outdoor water park for children, and multiple pools and hot tubs throughout the overwhelmingly bright space.

Pool on Wonder of the Seas — Brittany Chang/Insider

And the deck above this had even more activities including a mini-golf course, dry slide, zip line, and surf simulator. It's the only cruise ship on this list with the latter two activities.

And in my opinion, they epitomizes Royal Caribbean's goal of appealing to families.

The Norwegian Prima had similarly family-oriented activities including some I never expected to find on a cruise ship.

Like the Wonder of the Seas, there was a children's water park, although it wasn't as grand as Royal Caribbean's.

Families could also play mini golf and slide down the decks-long dry slide aboard the Prima.

But unlike the Wonder of the Seas, the ship also had a VR arcade, high-tech darts, a go-kart course, and the "Stadium" with outdoor activities like ping pong.

But its pool deck was far from exciting. At least there was a water slide.

But this deck wasn’t the only option for pool-side lounging. The ship also had a more peaceful 0.33-mile walkway with pools, lounge chairs, and daybeds.

Unlike Norwegian and Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises is actively trying to attract Gen X travelers, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Celebrity Cruises' CEO, told Insider in 2021. And this is definitely reflected in the ship

seating and artwork on an open aired walkway — The Celebrity Apex.
Brittany Chang/Insider

While the common spaces aboard Prima and Wonder of the Seas were playful and youthful, the Apex had a modern and polished flair akin to a new hotel.

hanging plants and green decor around the multi-floor Eden venue — Inside Eden.
Brittany Chang/Insider

Areas like the Rooftop Garden and Eden were sophisticated and some of the most beautiful spaces I've seen aboard a cruise ship.

outdoor lounge seating by a large screen — The Rooftop Garden.
Brittany Chang/Insider

But given the target demographic, there were no water slides or activities designed just for young children.

the lounge chairs in a relatively empty pool. — The pool.
Brittany Chang/Insider

And while any Solarium with glass ceilings is luxurious, this one looked a bit dated.

a relatively empty Solarium with a bright skylight — The Solarium.
Brittany Chang/Insider

However, it’s worth mentioning that the gym — lined with Pelotons — was fairly luxurious.

a row of bikes and Pelotons facing the ocean — The gym.
Brittany Chang/Insider

Of all the ships, Royal Caribbean's newest mega-ship had the most impressive amenities.

Its size definitely helps: The more space you have, the more amenities you can include.

There are enough activities to keep a family entertained for days at sea.

And even though the Norwegian Prima had a VR arcade and go-karting, the Wonder of the Seas' unique spaces made it a clear winner.

Onto dining. Royal Caribbean's giant cruise ship has over 20 dining venues. However, over half are specialty restaurants that come at an extra cost to travelers.

There were a handful of fun dining options like an outdoor build-your-own taco and burrito bar, a pizza shop, and an 18-seat restaurant.

But the best meal I had aboard the ship was the cruise ship buffet. There was something for everyone, including international dishes, classic favorites, and a seafood section. And the raw fresh was shockingly fresh.

However, I can't say the same for the two specialty dining restaurants I tried.

Hooked Seafood was satisfactory but not mind-blowing. And Mason Jar, a new-to-brand Southern restaurant with live music, served me unbearably dry chicken.

At least the new cruise ship had a diverse list of drinking venues.

There's a watering hole operated by robots, another designed to look like an old English pub, and a bar on a platform that moved vertically between decks.

Like the cruise ship’s amenities and activities, there was something for every drinker aboard the ship.

But the Norwegian Prima had the most unique restaurant options of all the ships I sailed on.

There were 14 dining options. Half were specialty restaurants.

The amenities inside Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Prima cruise ship. — Brittany Chang/Insider

But my favorite meals were at the complimentary food hall with touch screen ordering pads at every table, the first I've ever seen on a cruise ship.

Here, diners could choose between 11 restaurants including an Indian eatery, an international noodle bar concept, and a rotisserie option.

And to my surprise, almost everything I tried here was as good as the typical on-land options. I could've eaten every meal here.

The ship also had plenty of bars. In my opinion, the Metropolitan bar was its most unique concept.

Here, the zero-waste cocktails used liqueurs and syrups made from some of the ship's food scraps.

Cruise ships aren't known for being low-waste or great for the environment. And the bar only cut a tiny fraction of the ship's food waste. But at least the attempt was made.

There are 29 dining venues aboard the Celebrity Apex. Seven are specialty venues.

people walking around the buffet — The buffet.
Brittany Chang/Insider

However, these options weren't too exciting. Most restaurants served either American or European cuisine with the exception of a raw bar with sushi and sashimi.

Rooftop Garden Grill under a white awning — The Rooftop Garden Grill.
Brittany Chang/Insider

The meals on Apex were good at best. I didn't eat anything too memorable.

a large piece of art on the floor at one of the restaurants — The entrance into one of the restaurants.
Brittany Chang/Insider

While Le Petit Chef and Family was fun and wholesome, the food was just satisfactory.

a plate of pasta above a table with projected animations — Le Petit Chef and Family.
Brittany Chang/Insider

The Apex's target Gen X demographic is clear with its choice of bars.

an empty beer-forward bar — The Craft Social Bar.
Brittany Chang/Insider

There was a martini bar at the heart of the ship next to a craft beer and sports bar. These classy additions fit both the demographic and current drink trends.

an empty Martini Bar — The Martini Bar.
Brittany Chang/Insider

But one of the most unique bars — and spaces in general — aboard the ship was the Magic Carpet, a bar and lounge on an open-aired platform that can rise and lower between decks.

people standing on the market carpet as it's above the water — The Magic Carpet.
Brittany Chang/Insider

It also doubles as a tender dock at ports of call.

people stepping off of a tender onto the Magic Carpet — The Magic Carpet.
Brittany Chang/Insider

Between the three ships, the Norwegian Prima's food and beverage program was my favorite.

Almost everything I ate at the digital food hall was delicious and it was fun seeing a modern concept on a cruise ship.

The Wonder of the Seas buffet comes in a close second. But the diversity of cuisines at Prima's food hall makes it a winner in my eyes.

However, Royal Caribbean's mega vessel shines again with the nighttime entertainment.

The ship's ice skating show wasn't my favorite although the venue itself is unique for a cruise ship.

But "inTENse" — an exciting outdoor show filled with divers, dancers, a tightrope walker, and synchronized swimmers — made up for the lackluster ice skating show.

Here, the two halves of the stage — and its performers — rose and sank into a pool.

I was fully engaged and enthralled during the show. And the outdoor venue was the best I've ever seen on a vessel.

Unlike the Wonder of the Seas, Prima's entertainment thrives on being recognizable. However, I wasn't able to take photos during the shows.

During my media sailing, the ship was showing its rendition of Broadway musical "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical," a contemporary tap dancing and beat boxing mashup "Noise Boys," and "The Price is Right Live" game show.

While I'm not a fan of musicals, the Prima's production of the Donna Summer Musical and "Noise Boys" were two of the most impressive productions I've seen on a ship …

… although it wasn't as entertaining as Royal Caribbean's "inTENse."

Wonder of the Seas — Brittany Chang/Insider

And "The Price is Right Live" was a surprising hit. It was as much a game show as it was an interactive comedic experience.

However, I don't have this high praise for the Celebrity Apex's show.

a window looking out onto the walkway and ocean — The Celebrity Apex.
Brittany Chang/Insider

The nighttime performers aboard the Apex are undeniably talented but I wasn't amused by the acrobat and electric violin production. It was far from memorable and reminded me of a typical cruise ship performance.

a woman playing violin during a live show — A show in the theater.
Brittany Chang/Insider

Nothing compares to the Wonder of the Sea’s “inTENse” water show. It changed my perspective of cruise ship shows.

If it's not clear yet, this mega vessel is my favorite ship I've sailed on so far.

While the Norwegian Prima's stateroom and food options were superior, the common spaces and amenities aboard the Wonder of the Seas far outshined any other vessel.

A candy shop on the Wonder of the Seas — Brittany Chang/Insider

And in my opinion, the amenities and activities are the most important part of a cruise ship. Travelers don't sail just to stay in their staterooms all day.

Neighborhoods like Central Park and the Boardwalk looked nothing like a cruise ship.

And I didn't have time to do every activity I wanted to during my two-night sailing, which is rare to say when you're stuck on a ship with nowhere to go.

Moving forward, it’ll be the only cruise ship I recommend to traveling families. But at least the Norwegian Prima is a close second.

Wonder of the Seas Solarium — Brittany Chang/Insider

Read the original article on Business Insider

------------
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By: [email protected] (Brittany Chang)
Title: I sailed on 3 of the newest cruise ships from Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Celebrity and the best was also the biggest ship. Here's how they compare.
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/royal-caribbean-norwegian-celebrity-cruises-compared-2023-1
Published Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2023 12:00:00 +0000

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I sailed on 3 of the newest cruise ships from Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Celebrity and the best was also the biggest ship. Here's how they compare.

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