Love on the Waves: Traditional Valentine’s Day Gifts with a Nautical Twist
From chocolates to subscriptions, show your partner that they're the skipper of your heart with these nautical-themed traditional Valentine's gifts for boaters.
Valentine’s Day. It sneaks up on you every year! And despite pleas of it being just another “Hallmark Holiday”, I think Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to treat your loved one and enjoy some special time just the two of you.
But even if you subscribe to the niceness of Valentine’s Day, there’s still so much stress that comes with it! What do you buy your partner? Should you have a date night? Do you need to hand-write a poem that expresses your love and admiration and recite it from the top of the tallest building you can find?
Well, I’m not saying that last one wouldn’t be nice… But for those of us planning a romantic day for a boater, this guide to the perfect Valentine’s Day will have them diving for Kate Winslet’s lost necklace just to thank you!
We’ve compiled some of the best and most traditional Valentine’s Day ideas and given them a nautical twist. So you can share your love for the water with the love of your life. (And no, I’m not sorry about the cheese!)
Make a splash with Valentine’s Day gifts for boaters that they’ll truly cherish. Photo by Jesse Goll on Unsplash
Links and images are included for inspiration only. We do not receive commission and they should not be interpreted as a recommendation to buy.
1. Flowers
Flowers are probably the go-to Valentine’s gift. And while traditionally they’d be a gift from him to her, you’ll probably find that most men (even if they don’t admit to it) wouldn’t mind the odd bouquet from time to time!
But vases and flowers can be a hazard on a boat, especially if you’re taking to sea. So, instead of a bouquet, try a potted plant instead! That way, it’ll last longer and is much more likely to survive the rough conditions of a sailing trip.
Some of the best plants for boats include succulents, aloe vera, spider plants, and English ivy. For a more flowery look, consider orchids, African violets, or Christmas cactus. These plants are hardy, low-maintenance options that can tolerate fluctuating light, minimal water, and boat movements while adding a touch of nature and romance to your vessel. A perfect way to say “I love you” without making a mess!
Orchids are a fantastic alternative to traditional flowers for boaters this Valentine’s Day
2. Chocolates
Obviously, chocolates have to be the second most popular Valentine’s gift for him or her. Now, you shouldn’t need me to tell you to find out your partner’s favourite chocolate and get that one (bonus points if it’s one you hate, so they don’t have to share!), but you could go a step further and get some to represent your shared love of the sea.
You could go for the classic nautical, shell-shaped chocolates of Guylian, or show them how they “float your boat” with these chocolates from M&S. Adorable and themed, what more could you want?!
If you really want to impress, this beautiful chocolate boat can be personalised with your vessel’s colours and name, and you can even pick the chocolate! For sailors, this pretty chocolate sailing scene will have them reliving their racing days, and can also be customised with names, colours, flavours, etc.
For a cheaper but just as sweet treat, Fosters Chocolates offers some delicious-looking boat-shaped chocolates starting from just £2! Pick your partner’s favourite treats to fuel the boat, and you’re onto a winner.
Forget boring heart-shaped Valentine’s chocolates, this personalisable chocolate boat from LindyPopChocs on Etsy says ‘I love you’ way better than any standard Valentine’s gift ever could!
3. Jewellery
A piece of jewellery is an excellent choice for a romantic statement. Pick something your partner wears often, and be sure to buy something high-quality that can deal with the salt and stress of life aboard, such as stainless steel, titanium, silver, platinum, or gold.
It’s pretty easy to put a nautical twist on jewellery, with plenty of places selling items depicting anchors, boats, ocean creatures, etc. But why not make this a double gift by shopping for jewellery that actively helps clean up the oceans? Consider jewellers that use recycled materials, donate to marine conservation, or a sponsor-an-animal option for a thoughtful gift that does so much more than look pretty.
Some places to consider that are doing their bit for marine conservation include:
- Save the Ocean Jewellery offers an absolutely stunning collection of elegant jewellery to suit a range of styles, with proceeds actively working to protect the ocean and its inhabitants.
- Club Ocean features some cute bracelets (as well as plushies and other gifts) that allow you to track your chosen animal. Choose to save and track a turtle, shark, polar bear, whale, dolphin, or coral restoration project.
- Behaviour Change Cornwall offers a great unisex bracelet made of recovered and recycled fishing net. A great way to support a local cause, get plastic out of the ocean, and look stylish while you do it!
- Ocean Life has a great collection of marine-themed jewellery for him and her, with proceeds directly supporting the Ocean Life Foundation.
And if you want to really show off, Tiffany&Co even offers a Love For Our Oceans collection, utilising recycled polyester from ocean-bound plastic bottles alongside 18k gold, with proceeds going towards The Nature Conservancy.
A piece of jewellery that’s beautiful, timeless, nautical-themed, AND protects the ocean is the perfect way to show your boating partner how much you care. Image by Tiffany&Co
4. Watches
If we talk about jewellery as a classic Valentine’s Day gift idea, then we really should include watches in this list. But rather than just going for the classics, make sure you’re picking a watch that your loved one can wear on the water and really get some use out of.
Our list of the best sailing watches offers some great inspiration for the time-conscious mariner in your life. Consider aspects like water resistance, durability, and style for a romantic and thoughtful gift for all occasions.
And, of course, seeing as we mentioned Tiffany&Co, we would be remiss not to include an option for the Rolex admirers among us. The Rolex Yacht-Master 42 comes in 18ct white gold with a black dial and Oysterflex bracelet that the skipper of your heart is sure to love almost as much as you!
The Rolex YachtMaster combines sophistication with durability, the perfect Valentine’s gift for a boating enthusiast.
5. Perfume or cologne
Choosing a signature scent might not seem like something that can easily be given a nautical twist for Valentine’s Day. But you’d be a fool for giving up that easily!
Why not try some of the following perfumes and colognes inspired by the sea and impress your partner by capturing their favourite pastime in fragrance?
For him
Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio
Prada Luna Rossa Ocean Aftershave (this is a personal favourite)
Paco Rabanne Invictus Aqua EDT
Tom Ford Costa Azzurra Eau De Parfum
Davidoff Cool Water
Ralph Lauren Polo Blue
For her
Replica Beach Walk
Sex Sea Extrait de Parfum
Jo Malone London Wood Sage and Sea Salt.
Heeley Sel Marin Eau de Parfum
Every Storm a Serenade Imaginary Authors
Zoologist Seahorse Extrait de Parfum
Help your other half discover their new signature scent with some ocean-inspired fragrances this Valentine’s Day. Photo by Ulysse Pointcheval on Unsplash
6. Photo gifts
Photo albums or scrapbooks make wonderful Valentine’s gifts and are a beautiful way to share memories with your loved one. However, paper and photographs don’t necessarily go hand-in-hand with the often damp environment aboard a boat, so your meaningful gift could quickly become a mess of wet and spoilt paper if poorly packaged!
But hope isn’t lost!
Instead of packaging your memories on something that could get ruined, why not create a meaningful, personalised gift that showcases your love on an item that’s sure to be used?
To get you started, here are some of our favourite ideas for personalised photo gifts:
- Photo blankets – Create memories that will keep your loved one warm on cold nights at anchor with a personalised photo blanket. Whether you go for one photo or a collage, you’re sure to feel the love and warmth with this gift.
- Keyrings and keychains – There’s no place like home. With a personalised keyring or keychain, you can keep your face or message close, reminding them that home is wherever you’re together.
- Compass – What better way to show a sailor that they’re your True North than with a personalised compass? Have it engraved with their name and a message, or look for one that lets you put a picture inside the case so they can think of you as they’re navigating.
For more inspiration, you can create some beautiful photo gifts with companies such as Not On The Highstreet, Snapfish, Vistaprint, and Photobox. Or, support local, independent stores with a personalised photo gift from Etsy.
You’re sure to find the perfect way to display your love with a boat-safe twist.
A photo blanket makes a much more boat-friendly alternative to a classic scrapbook or photo album and will keep your loved one warm at sea. Photo by Daki Market on Unsplash
7. Subscription services
These days, you can buy a subscription box for anything from cheese to alcohol to socks, so this is a great way to show your partner how much you care about them and their interests with a gift that keeps on giving!
But if, like me, you have more of a nomadic lifestyle and don’t stay in the same place for long, having a monthly delivery can be a bit of a pain! (I’ve had subscriptions go to the wrong address on more than one occasion when I’ve forgotten to update the shipping details in time.)
But that doesn’t mean a subscription is off the table. Subscriptions to digital channels such as YouTube or Netflix will let your partner watch their favourite sailors and shows even when offshore and offline – which they’re sure to love! Or, if they’re a sports fan, why not find out what channel shows their favourite team most often and get them a subscription to that?
If you want to go for something more physical but enjoy life as a digital nomad, then make sure you look for companies that offer more flexibility when it comes to delivery. Allowing you to update addresses closer to the shipping date and being able to pause your subscription will be incredibly valuable when you’re trying to arrange your delivery on the move!
Whether it’s sports, YouTube, cheese, gin, socks, or something else entirely, a subscription is a gift that keeps on giving whether ashore or at sea. Photo by Maxim Hopman on Unsplash
8. Accessories
Good quality bags, scarves, and wallets are always great options for a Valentine’s gift to impress. And you might be able to take it a step further by personalising the items with names, dates, messages, or even images (like we discussed above).
If you’re going down the accessories route for a boating partner, however, be sure to give some thought to how the items will work on the seas. A floaty scarf might look pretty around town, but a snood might be a better option for chilly ocean passages! Similarly, that expensive wallet might look impressive, but how will it stand up to abuse from the salt and water surrounding your floating home?
If you’re looking for a nice bag, you could take this gift to the next level by filling it with these 10 fix-it essentials to carry on every boat. It’s a gift within a gift that they’re sure to love!
Scarves, hats, bags, wallets, sunglasses, and yes, even pipes can all make excellent traditional Valentine’s gifts for boaters. Just make sure you consider whether the item you’re buying will stand up to the salt and dampness of life aboard!
9. Memories
If your partner is mad about boats, then you can’t go wrong with gifting them a memory they’ll never forget. Many cities these days have floating restaurants that would be perfect for your Valentine’s date night, or why not look for some boat tours in your local area?
For something more exotic and hands-on, you could also consider chartering a boat. Check out some of our other articles – such as our yacht charter holiday guide, ten great charter destinations, and 7 top charter yachts for sailing holidays – for more inspiration.
Combine their love of sailing with your love of sandy beaches and blue oceans by booking a romantic yacht charter holiday for Valentine’s!
10. Experience
Is there any greater gift than the gift of experience? Whether your partner is a long-term yachty or an aspiring mariner, a boat course could be the perfect gift. Not only will they get to enjoy some time on the water with a qualified instructor and improve their skills, but you’ll also be showing the love by helping keep them safer at sea.
We’ve previously looked at the best sailing courses available in the UK, so take a look at our previous guides, including ‘Learn to sail: Sailing courses explained’ and ‘Powerboat Training: Courses and Tuition’ to find the perfect course.
For bonus points, book yourself on the same course so you can share the experience and learn together! After all, if you still love each other after a day at sea, it’s clearly meant to be!
The RYA offer a variety of training courses for sail and power boats to suit a range of experiences.
Can you feel the love?
Don’t let your love crash on the rocks this Valentine’s Day! Get them a gift they’ll truly cherish.
And if none of these ideas float your boat, check out some of our other gift guides:
- Best gifts for sailors under £50
- Best Boating Father's Day Gift Ideas 2018
- 5 of the Greatest Maritime Inventions
- 10 Top Marine Tools for Boating
- Best Powerboat Books 2016
- Best Sailing Watches 2025
- 12 Budget Boats Under £20,000 in 2024
