Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard comes from Bank of America at $0/yr; the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority from Chase at $229/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
For most people the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority 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 Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority first; revisit the Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard | Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $229 |
| Sign-up bonus | 25,000 WorldPoints | 90,000 points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $250 | $840 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $1,000 in 3 mo | $3,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | Bank of America | Chase |
| Card category | travel | airline |
| Best earning category (Norwegian_cruise_line_purchases) | 3x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
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Editorial take: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
If Southwest is your airline, this is the card to have. The anniversary points and $75 travel credit help offset the annual fee, and the 4x earning on Southwest is class-leading among airline cards.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard or Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority has the bigger bonus, 90,000 points, 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 Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
- The Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority's $229 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority's benefits to clear $229 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 Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Bank of America and Chase) 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 Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority 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. Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority: $3,000 in 3 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.
