Delft tile question

[rothbury]

I've just unpacked my delft tiles from my Westerdam cruise last week and noticed they are for the "old" Westerdam from 1988 to 2002. I know Laffnvegas was a few weeks ahead of us. How about anybody else? Did you get tiles from the "New" Westerdam or do yours show the "old" ship, also?

[CoppellCruiser]

How do you get these tiles? Are they presented to pax as part of the cruise? Or are they purchased onboard?

[Sierrachik]

How do you get these tiles? Are they presented to pax as part of the cruise? Or are they purchased onboard?

They're given to Mariners (those who have previously sailed on HAL). On your first cruise with HAL you will not receive one.

[luv2cruise450]

These are 'gifted' to those who are 'Mariners'...you will become a Mariner AFTER your first HAL cruise...so after you have sailed 1 cruise on an HAL ship...you will automatically become a Mariner and on your subsequent sailings with them---you will get one of the tiles. All my tiles are usually for a different number of that ship's name than the one we are sailing on...except if it is the first HAL ship to bear that name...i.e. for the Oosterdam...my tile is for the current ship that was launched in 2003. Also from our Zaandam sailing...one tile is for the Zaandam III and one tile depicts a couple dressed in Dutch style clothing. I have also noted that the Oosterdam tiles are a bit thinner than the previous tiles that I have gotten.
Anyway...hope this helps.
Happy sailings!

[Krazy Kruizers]

In January we got the Westerdam III tiles - 2004 marked on them.

[Esme]

All the tiles we have are from the older ships. Right beside me I have the Rotterdam III, 1897-1906 and I certainly was not on that ship. :D

On the Westerdam in December DH and I received plates, as we are long time cruisers and it was a pix of the new ship. DD (10 cruises) got a tile but I have no idea whether it is the new Westerdam or the old one depicted on it.

[ryansmemom]

I've just unpacked my delft tiles from my Westerdam cruise last week and noticed they are for the "old" Westerdam from 1988 to 2002. I know Laffnvegas was a few weeks ahead of us. How about anybody else? Did you get tiles from the "New" Westerdam or do yours show the "old" ship, also?


I do not know if I am misinterpreting your question or not. If I am please excuse me. I just want to give you a bit of background.

I sense that you may be concerned that you may have received "old" tiles. The tiles given by HAL are seen as collectables by many people. HAL has given out tiles that date back many decades, that commemorate many ships and special voyages. The tiles may not necessarily reflect the current ship you are sailing on. There are some very interesting tiles "out there." You can find them for sale on e-bay, of course, along with other HAL memorabila.

Some people find interesting (to them anyway) things to do with their tiles. There are many trays, back splashes, table tops etc. decorated with HAL tiles. I put mine in a lighted cabinet back in my kitchen.

What can I say, it's a hobby.

I hope this helps. Again, if I misread your concern, I apologise.

Linda :)

[serendipity1499]

On the Westerdam's Maiden Trans-Atlantic Crossing in 2004 we received the "ms Westerdam III 2004" tiles. However, have several tiles from the older ships even though we were on the newer ship with the same name..ie: "ss Maasdam III 1921-1941"..

[rothbury]

This was the first time I had gotten a tile from a ship other then what I was sailing on. We've been recieving the tiles for several years as we have been sailing with HAL for 20+ years. I just never gave it a second thought until I unpacked the tiles and looked at them. I don't know whether I should write HAL and ask for the current Westerdam tile since we have tiles from all of our other cruises. I guess it's no big deal. Just gives us an excuse to go again next year!
Thanks for the responses though. It seems like they are kind of arbitrary with what they hand out.

[user8]

Ours are of the earlier ships than the ones we sailed on. We have several tiles and this post got me to thinking, "what do others do with them?". When I went looking, I found ours in a plastic bag inside of a bed room chest.

IMO, they are much too pretty to be stuck away like that. Any comments on how to use or display them would be appreciated.

[EbayCruiser]

I only have two tiles now (we received two on our first HAL cruise - I just asked the room steward if he could get me one and on the last night, they were on our bed).

I display them right now with my salt glazed pottery collection in an old antique hutch. They fit right in with them (by the way ... we cruised the Oosterdam in 2004 but we received tiles showing the ship and Oosterdam 2003. Our room steward said those were the only ones he could get. I was happy to get them and we gave him a good tip!

[spindrift]

I find this interesting. I have sailed many other ships, but only on HAL 4 times and have never seen a "tile."

[RuthC]

That's strange, spindrift. Did you put the number of HAL days on your immigration form? And get an invitation to the Mariners' Party?

If the HAL Front Office onboard ship knew you were a Mariner you should have had a tile delivered to your cabin the night before the Mariners' Party, starting on your second cruise.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I've just unpacked my delft tiles from my Westerdam cruise last week and noticed they are for the "old" Westerdam from 1988 to 2002. I know Laffnvegas was a few weeks ahead of us. How about anybody else? Did you get tiles from the "New" Westerdam or do yours show the "old" ship, also?

Excellent question since this is a question I have wanted to ask also. When we were on the Oosterdam May 2004 our tiles said MS Oosterdam I 2003, which was the year the Oosterdam came out. That made total sence also I was able to get a tile form the Zuirderdam thanks to a wonderful CC member that says MS Zuirderdam 2002 again the year the Zuirderdam came out. Then came last November when we were on the Ryndam our tiles said MS Ryndam II 1951-1972 obviously not that Ryndam. We were hoping to get one dated 2004 since she had just gone thru the SOE. Next was the Westerdam just like rothbury our says MS Westerdam II 1988-2002 again the previous Westerdam. Since I had heard that KK said Westerdam III 2004 I was looking forward to getting the new one.

I agree they are a type of collectors item so I am grateful to get one but it is confusing. My guess is they make up a certain number of them, then they run out and just give out the previous ones.

What do I do with my tiles? Well, fortunately my kitchen's main colors are blue and white. I have a glass cook top that sits over our corian counter top and I have our tiles lined up behind the cook top. It looks nice, I look forward to adding more to them:)

[dakrewser]

Many people sail on the same ship year after year. Think how boring it would be to always get the same tile! I'm not sure how often they change, but I'd wager at least once a year...