Voyager of the Seas vs Norwegian Encore: Two Cheap 7-Night Cruises from Los Angeles

Two seven-night cruises from Los Angeles caught my attention for late November 2026.
Both are cheap. Very cheap!!!

Voyager of the Seas — November 27
Interior: US$249
Oceanview: US$399
Balcony: US$556

Norwegian Encore — November 29
Interior: US$279
Oceanview: US$329
Balcony: US$379
Suite: US$479

These CruiseDirect prices include taxes and fees at the time checked.
For a seven-night cruise from Los Angeles, both are unusually inexpensive.
But despite Encore being the newer ship — and only US$30 more for an interior cabin — I am currently leaning toward Voyager of the Seas.

Here is why.

The Itinerary: Encore Wins

Voyager sails:
Los Angeles → Ensenada → Cabo San Lucas → Mazatlán → Los Angeles
Encore sails:
Los Angeles → Cabo San Lucas → Mazatlán → Puerto Vallarta → Los Angeles

Encore has the stronger itinerary. Puerto Vallarta is a much more substantial port stop than Ensenada, and Cabo, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta make a very solid Mexican Riviera route. If the ports were my main priority, I would choose Encore.But they are not.

The Ships Are Very Different

Norwegian Encore is a much newer ship and has more impressive features on paper. There is the Speedway, Galaxy Pavilion, Observation Lounge, Waterfront, multiple specialty restaurants and a more modern overall design.

Voyager of the Seas is older and smaller, but it still has many of the classic Royal Caribbean attractions: the Royal Promenade, ice skating, rock climbing, FlowRider, waterslides and large production entertainment.

So the question is not simply:

Which ship has more?
It is:

Which ship is easier and more enjoyable to actually use?
That is where Voyager becomes more interesting.

My Main Concern With Encore: Crowding

One of the things that comes up repeatedly in Norwegian Encore reviews is crowding.

Popular areas such as the pool deck, buffet and major attractions can feel busy, and some guests report difficulty getting reservations for restaurants, shows or activities.

The Speedway is a good example.
A Go-Kart track at sea sounds fun, and it is one of Encore’s signature attractions. But some passengers report long waits or difficulty getting the time slot they want.

That does not mean everyone waits two hours, and it will vary by sailing.
But it raises an important question:

How much value does an attraction have if I spend a significant amount of time waiting for it?
For me, that matters.
I would rather have slightly fewer attractions that are easier to use than a long list of impressive features that require constant planning.

Food: Voyager vs Encore

Food is another part of this comparison that made me look more seriously at Voyager.

Neither ship has a perfect reputation for included dining, but the experience is slightly different.

Voyager of the Seas

Voyager’s main free dining options include the Main Dining Room, Windjammer buffet and Cafe Promenade.
The food is generally traditional cruise fare: steaks, fish, pasta, chicken and rotating nightly dishes.
Passenger reviews are mixed, but the Main Dining Room is often described as decent to very good, especially considering the price of the cruise.

The biggest weakness is Windjammer.

Like most cruise buffets, it can get crowded at peak times, and some reviews mention inconsistent food temperature or difficulty finding a table.

So I would not choose Voyager because I expect amazing food.
But I also would not be particularly worried about the food.
For a seven-night cruise at US$249, the included dining looks perfectly reasonable, and I could always add one specialty dinner at Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table or Izumi.

Norwegian Encore
Encore has more dining variety.

Its included options include the main dining rooms, Garden Cafe buffet and The Local, while the ship also has a large selection of specialty restaurants.
That variety is a real advantage.

However, many of the more interesting dining experiences are specialty restaurants, and some passengers mention difficulty getting reservations at popular times. Reviews of the free dining are also mixed. Some guests are very happy with the main dining rooms and The Local, while others complain about buffet crowding, limited selection or inconsistent quality.

So I would summarize the difference this way:

Entertainment

This is another area where Voyager appeals to me.
Royal Caribbean has its signature ice show, plus production shows, live music and other evening entertainment.
The ice show is particularly interesting because it is something you do not get on most cruise lines.

Encore also has strong entertainment venues and live performances, but Norwegian’s entertainment lineup has changed over time, and specific productions can vary by sailing.

So I would not choose Encore purely because it is newer. For me, Voyager’s mix of ice skating, live entertainment and Royal Caribbean-style production shows is still competitive.

Which Ship Has Better Activities?

On paper, Encore probably wins.

It has newer and more unusual attractions, including the Speedway and Galaxy Pavilion, as well as the Observation Lounge and Waterfront.

But not every headline attraction is included in the cruise fare. Galaxy Pavilion, for example, carries an additional charge.

Voyager’s attractions are older, but many of the activities I would actually use — including FlowRider, rock climbing and ice skating — are part of the classic Royal Caribbean onboard experience.

• Speedway
• Galaxy Pavilion
• Large Observation Lounge
• Waterfront
• More specialty dining

Voyager:

• Ice skating
• FlowRider
• Rock climbing
• Waterslides
• Royal Promenade
• Ice show

So for me, the question is not simply which ship has more attractions.
It is whether I can actually use those attractions easily, without constantly thinking about reservations, extra charges or long waits.

Encore feels more modern.
Voyager feels more straightforward.
And personally, I am starting to think I may prefer straightforward.

The Price Changes the Decision

If the prices were similar across every cabin category, I would probably lean toward Voyager.
But the balcony prices make this comparison much harder.

Voyager balcony: US$556
Encore balcony: US$379
That is a difference of US$177 per person.
For a couple, that is US$354.
For a family, the gap becomes even more significant.

So if I wanted a balcony cabin, Encore would be extremely hard to ignore.
But if I were booking an interior cabin, the difference is only US$30 per person.
At that point, price is almost irrelevant. It becomes a question of which ship I would actually enjoy more.

My Choice Right Now

If I were choosing mainly for the itinerary, I would pick Norwegian Encore.
If I wanted a balcony at the lowest possible price, I would also pick Norwegian Encore.
But if I were booking an interior cabin and choosing mainly for the ship, I would currently lean toward Voyager of the Seas.

Why?

Because I care less about having the longest list of attractions and more about whether I can actually use them without constantly dealing with reservations, waiting or overcrowding.

Voyager is older.
Encore is newer.
Encore has more.
But Voyager may be easier to enjoy.

And at US$249 for seven nights, that makes it a very interesting option.