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Side-by-side
Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard vs United Explorer Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard comes from Bank of America at $0/yr; the United Explorer Card from Chase at $150/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the United Explorer Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($790 more in estimated value) than the Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard's. Get the United Explorer Card first; revisit the Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard | United Explorer Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $150 |
| Sign-up bonus | 25,000 WorldPoints | 50,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus |
| Bonus value (est.) | $250 | $1,040 |
| 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 |
|
Read the full review
Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard
$0/yr · 25,000 WorldPoints
Read the full review
United Explorer Card
$150/yr · 50,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus
Editorial take: United Explorer Card
Solid for United flyers. The free checked bag and 2 United Club passes per year add up, and the 70k + 10k AU bonus is a great starting point for domestic award flights. $0 intro annual fee, then $150.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard or United Explorer Card?
- The United Explorer Card has the bigger bonus, 50,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus, worth roughly $1,040, 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 United Explorer Card?
- The Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard has no annual fee, so the question is whether the United Explorer Card's $150 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the United Explorer Card's benefits to clear $150 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 United Explorer Card?
- 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 United Explorer Card 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. United Explorer Card: $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.