I would be very careful with waiting too long to get a Continental card. With the merger expected to close by the end of the year I would expect the Continental cards yanked around then or possibly even well before. Who knows. But that's the point: I clearly recall several posts on these boards assuring everyone they still had time to get a NW card while their merger with Delta was going on, and I unwisely heeded their assurances and then a good month before anyone was suspecting their closure they were unceremoniously yanked. Missed out on some easy miles that I'd never have a chance to get again.
So from here on out, if you haven't had them yet, consider these Continental cards living on borrowed time and a priority to get while the getting is good. And don't put a whole lot of stock into any predicted dates for their demise. (Like mine for instance.