HAL Tiles

[csg99]

Please forgive me if this has been addressed, but I didn't see it...

 

What does everyone do with their tiles? Do you have a unique way of displaying them? Thanks in advance for your input!:D

[doone]

I use mine for coasters when I entertain, makes for some great conversation.

[RuthC]

I've never done anything special with mine---they're stored in a bureau drawer. They're arranged in order of cruise and bring back a sweet memory every time I open that drawer.

A couple of years ago I gave a few duplicates to someone from the Cruise Critic board. And even though the rest aren't being put to good use, still I'd hate to get rid of any more.

[elmorejj]

I have also given some away. When we have done B to Bs, and receive 4 tiles of the same ship, and have met people on their first cruise, we have given them a memento of their cruise........jean :cool:

[jazncruiser]

use them as coasters on our living room tables, they are great!

[jhannah]

Coasters for us as well.

[Frogso]

This will be my first HAL cruise so just exactly what are HAL tiles?

[boards]

When do you get them? We will be on our second HAL cruise in Nov.

[elmorejj]

You will receive a HAL tile on your 2nd and subsequent cruises......when you are a Mariner! They are nice Delft tiles with a picture of the ship you are on. Sometimes the picture is of a previous generation of the ship........jean :cool:

[csg99]

[ QUOTE=RuthC]A couple of years ago I gave a few duplicates to someone from the Cruise Critic board.]

I have also given some away. When we have done B to Bs, and receive 4 tiles of the same ship, and have met people on their first cruise, we have given them a memento of their cruise........jean :cool:

 

That's so great of you! :D Our first was on the Veendam and I had always wished we had the tiles from that cruise--who knows when we'll get to sail on her again. I did find them on Ebay a few months ago and purchased them there.

[ryansmemom]

We used our tiles to line the back of one of our kitchen cabinets. We then installed lights and glass doors. We use the cabinets to display other HAL delft mementos. When we turn the lights on it is quite a display. :)

 

Linda

[McDebbie]

My first tile was from the Veendam back in 1998, then no more HAL voyages until last week. When I put the new tiles next to the Veendam tile they were almost half the depth of the first one! Times change I guess.

[csg99]

We used our tiles to line the back of one of our kitchen cabinets. We then installed lights and glass doors. We use the cabinets to display other HAL delft mementos. When we turn the lights on it is quite a display. :)

 

Linda

 

What a great idea!!:D

[longtimecruiser]

I have most of my tiles on top of a cabinet in my kitchen. It is low cabinet and everyone can see it as soon as they enter my kitchen. I have gotten some rave reviews as it does look neat. I have bigger delft tiles hanging on my wall in the kitchen. These were Christmas gifts from Christmas cruises back in the late 60's. The rest of my tiles are on my windowsill in the kitchen. Needless to say, I have a lot of delft in my kitchen. Adele

[trustee55]

Hi!

We have a beautiful antique pine dry sink and we have used most of our tiles to make a tray that fits in the bottom of the sink part. It looks just beautiful.

 

Cheers,

 

Carol Ann

[JimVrhovac]

Right now they are collecting dust but Ruth wants to tile the wall in her office that is not covered with pictures that she does not look at.........

 

ME: I just pay the bill and say YES DEAR

 

Jim

[grest]

when did they institute this program? It's been a while since our 2nd HAL cruise...like 15 years or so, and now weve booked the 3rd, but never got tiles before...just wondering.

 

Connie

[bepsf]

I velcro them to the wall of my cubicle at work - along with the matching luggage tags, mariner's buttons, shipboard cards, photo postcards, etc...

 

I believe HAL only started giving Tegels as gifts in recent years - since 1995? The HAL site has a new page that shows the styles that were given aboard which ships in a given year: http://www.hollandamerica.com/mariner/marinerTegels.do

"As a member of the Holland America Line Mariner Society, you will receive a collectable tegel (Dutch word for "tile") on each Holland America cruise beginning with your second cruise. The master craftsmen of Royal Goedewaagen, Holland - producers of authentic Delftware since 1610 - have created these tiles for Holland America Line. Each year, the master decorators create new designs for the tiles, which become part of a series of collector's items available only to guests of Holland America Line. We do not sell the Mariner Society tiles. They are given to our Mariner Society members during their second cruise and all subsequent cruises."

 

Prior to that it appears that HAL occassionally gave delft plates, vases, cannisters, jars, etc. as gifts to passengers (from what I can tell by trolling eBay...) Perhaps someone else knows more about this???

[Spender Nui]

I haven't done anything with them but I do have a lot, not only from HAL but from KLM Airlines too.

[serendipity1499]

I haven't done anything with them but I do have a lot, not only from HAL but from KLM Airlines too.

 

Use our tiles as coasters...Also have several small "delft houses" (replicas of houses in the Netherlands) filled with Apricot Brandy :) from KLM...

[arzz]

Thank you Bepsf for the link to the tiles on the HAL website -- I had not seen that yet --

 

So...being the compulsive personality that I am I tried to match my tiles to the pictured tiles, and the years that they were supposedly done -- the results were interesting

 

I am not sure that I ever received the tile that was appropriate for the year in question with the possible exception of my 1995 Statendam windmill -- HAL really went out on a limb with that one as they put the year (1995) right on the face of the tile

 

It seems that I received a 2000 Zaandam tile three years later, and several others seemed to be a year or two behind

 

The most interesting tile, however, is the one that I received this past June 2005, on the Zuiderdam which shows the current Zuiderdam from the rear, whereas the pictured tiles of the current ship on the HAL web site all show her from the front. Clearly all the tiles given out are not pictured. (or, alternately, my Zuiderdam from the rear tile is rare and valuable like a two headed penny?)

 

For the record I have the tiles arranged on the top of the bureau in my bedroom and use them as coasters for cologne, perfume, etc. Soon I will have too many and must find secondary uses for them. I really enjoy them as a keepsake of each of my HAL cruises. Many of those good at sea feelings surface momentarily as I glance at them each day.

[KCat]

How do you receive the tiles? Do they come with your docs. or are they in your cabin?

[Randyk47]

The coasters will be left in your cabin during the cruise. Right now....it's early and brain isn't totally in gear.....I can't remember if it's early on or late in the cruise. Right now my coffee mug is sitting on my tile from the Oosterdam from March 2004. :)

[elmorejj]

They are usually put in your cabin the day (or evening) of your Mariner party. One for each pax..........jean :cool:

[m steve]

This will be our first cruise on HAL on Volendam. What gifts do they give the cruisers? I read something about caps, tiles, etc. Pleas advise.