If you’ve ever sailed with Holland America Line and walked into your stateroom on the last night to find a blue-and-white tile waiting on your bed, you already know the feeling.
This isn’t your average “thanks for spending money with us” freebie. It’s not a cheap logo keychain. It isn’t a rubber magnet shaped like a palm tree. It’s a legitimate ceramic tile that looks like it belongs on the mantle of a cozy Dutch cottage – which is exactly why people go crazy for them.
This whole tradition is tied to the Mariner Society, Holland America’s loyalty program.
If you’ve ever tried to figure out hotel or airline points, you know it usually requires a spreadsheet, a calculator, and a small prayer. The Mariner Society is very simple: Take one cruise, and you’re in.
From there, you earn “Cruise Day” credits based on how many days you sail (plus some bonuses for onboard spending). These credits move you up the ladder from 1-Star all the way to 5-Star.
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The Perks: As you climb, you get better benefits like receptions, discounts, and the holy grail of cruise perks: free laundry.
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The Gift: But the perk that people get surprisingly excited about is the collectible gift: the Mariner Tile.
Why It’s Not Just “Swag”
Holland America didn’t pick tiles out of a hat, because let’s be honest, it is a bit of an odd gift. This is a cruise line with deep Dutch roots – founded in Rotterdam back in 1873 – and they lean into that heritage.
The tiles are Delftware. If you aren’t an art history buff, Delftware is that classic pottery style you see in the Netherlands: white backgrounds with cobalt blue designs, usually featuring windmills, ships, or floral patterns. By using this style, the gift feels like a genuine piece of culture you’re bringing home, rather than just corporate merchandise.
But here is the coolest part: Holland America isn’t just slapping a blue sticker on a coaster. These tiles are made in the Netherlands by Royal Goedewaagen, a ceramics company that has been operating since 1610.
Yes, 1610.
That is why the tile feels different the second you pick it up. It has weight. It has quality. It feels like it has a story because the people making it have been doing this for over 400 years.
The “Cruise Nerd” Factor
Of course, there is a collecting aspect to this. Holland America refreshes the tile designs every few years, so loyal Mariners don’t end up with 20 duplicates of the same image. (For their 150th anniversary, they even released a special commemorative tile that is now a total collector’s item.)
The current set features four designs, each tying a nautical icon to a specific class of ships:
- A Compass
- A Sextant
- An Anchor
- A Bell
The tile actually lists the ships in that specific class. This is a detail that makes cruise geeks very happy because it turns a loyalty gift into a fleet map. It reminds you not just that you sailed, but specifically what you sailed.
So, What Do You Do With Them?
Most cruise gifts end up in a junk drawer, or tossed in the trash. These tend to stay on display.
- The Display Route: A small stand on a bookshelf looks classy, or a shadow box frame if you have a collection going.
- The “Super Fan” Route: I have genuinely heard of people collecting enough of them to create a kitchen backsplash!
- The Practical Route: Personally? I use them as coasters. They have a nice cork backing to protect your table, so they are actually useful.
At the end of the day, the Mariner tile is a small thing. It’s just a square of clay. But it manages to be sentimental, a little bit nerdy, and surprisingly classy all at the same time.
And honestly? That is a pretty perfect summary of Holland America Line itself.