Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard vs Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select
Both are travel travel cards. The Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard comes from Bank of America at $0/yr; the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select from Citi at $99/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
For most people the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($590 more in estimated value) than the Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard's. Get the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select first; revisit the Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard | Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $99 |
| Sign-up bonus | 25,000 WorldPoints | 60,000 miles |
| Bonus value (est.) | $250 | $840 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $1,000 in 3 mo | $3,500 in 4 mo |
| Issuer | Bank of America | Citi |
| Card category | travel | travel |
| Best earning category (Norwegian_cruise_line_purchases) | 3x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
|
Editorial take: Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select
The free checked bag covers the fee on just one round-trip with a partner. Good if you fly AA more than twice a year, otherwise AAdvantage is worth collecting through other means.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard or Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select?
- The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select has the bigger bonus, 60,000 miles, worth roughly $840, versus 25,000 WorldPoints (~$250) on the Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard.
- Is the Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select?
- The Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select's $99 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select's benefits to clear $99 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard.
- Can I have both the Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard and Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Bank of America and Citi) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard or the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard: $1,000 spend in 3 months. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select: $3,500 in 4 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.
