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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

Brittany Chang/Insider

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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."

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.

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.

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