How can it be used? Well, I understand it will be applied to whatever charges I make, like alcohol or if I buy a tour on the ship, right?

Let's say, high pathetically, I won't buy anything. Not likely but in theory can happen. Can this credit be used for tipping? If I just let them deduct from my credit card, will cabin credit be used first?

Faina - you can use the credit for anything at all. It goes on your shipboard account as a credit so you don't really have to apply it to anything. Even in the Casino you get the cash charged to your account - if you win you are that much further ahead. If your tipping is charged to your account as they do now (unless you specifically say you want to tip yourself in cash) so it would come off that if you didn't buy anything.

Thank you, Traveller! I understand

FainaAgain
I would double check with the cruiseline to make sure you can use the shipboard credit for the tips and whatever else would qualify.

At one point I checked about this and was told it could not be used for tips. Possibly it was just the type of promotion at the time..I can't seem to remember.

I just don't want you to be disappointed when you get your bill! What a bummer!

Thank you, Katy, I will! (but I doubt anything will be left for tips from only $75 credit )

Faina it is as I said - the credit goes on your charge account and is deducted from whatever you spend. As a matter of fact I mentioned the casino - a lady on my last cruise went to the Casino got $100 cash - put it on her account and didn't gamble it. She really worked all the angles!! (The shipboard credit was $100)

We always ask to tip ourselves because I don't like the way the ship divides the tip money. We usually give more than the recommended amount to those who give us exceptional service and the base amount to the others. I object to some of the tips. We never once saw a head waiter on the cruise (3 weeks) and he came around the last night with his hand out!

Traveller, I had only one short cruise, the steward was so-so, the waiters were exceptional, but I've changed the time after 2 nights, and the head waiter was making his "rounds" every night! So I felt it's right if they deduct whatever, and I give a little cash to the best waiter.

But that's a great idea - get cash for gambling! Thank you!

Cruise lines are different but on NCL, the cabin credit cannot be used for tips.