Valentine's Day on the love boat

5 lovely tips for things to do & give this Valentine’s day

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Is Valentine’s Day a commercial stunt or a celebration of love? It can be a little contentious. Its reputation as an American greeting card holiday is valid in some respects, but at Stena Line we like to look at the bigger picture. Truthfully, we’re quite fond of Valentine’s Day and what it means we’ll gladly seize any opportunity to put the focus on love. Here are 5 lovely tips for things to do and give this Valentine’s day.

Want to do something a little special this year? We’ve done some thinking about clever ways to break from normal routines, create new memories and make your loved one feel really special.

Seaside village getaway for Valentine's Day

A weekend getaway in a cosy seaside village

Spirit your significant other off to a place where you can truly relax and focus on each other’s company, where you don’t have to bother with cars, metros or hordes of busy people. We recommend seeking out a quaint little spot where the quieter life prevails.

Winter is actually a wonderful time to visit a seaside village, as there’s nothing quite so romantic as being warm and cosy while looking out at a majestic winter sea. Some of the restaurants and things might be closed for the season, but that’s all for the better: you have an entire town for the two of you!

A culinary adventure for Valentine's

A culinary adventure

Rather than cramming into a restaurant down the street, why not try culinary experience that’s a little more novel? Take a course together in wine and cheese pairings. Find a class where you learn how to cook Thai food, make chocolates, or work with the foods of the season.

If you want to go all in on the classic romance, find a gorgeous restaurant in another city and make a whole night out of it. Do a bit of searching and you’ll find some really good restaurants, with or without Guide Michelin stars.

Love boat for Valentine's day

The love boat!

Did you know that a number of Stena Line boats have full-blown spas on board? It’s true. You can relax in a hot tub while you watch the sea glide by. Book massages, unwind in the sauna, have a nap on a reclining chair, sip champagne. Does it get more dreamy?

Psst! There are romantic cabins on board too, offering panoramic views of the sea. If you’re feeling splashy, some of the deluxe cabins come with their very own hot tub!

If your loved one has a thing for the sea, this could be their ideal Valentine’s surprise.

Gifts of love, for the love of gifts!

Why are perfumes and colognes considered romantic gifts? Well, when worn properly, only those who stand very close can have a whiff. Find a scent you want to get right up next to, and get it at on board prices if you want to spring for a luxury brand and save some money. Here are our top 5 scents, for him and her, from the on board shop.

And chocolate – why is it associated with love? It’s all about chemistry. Amidst the velvety, melty texture, a chemical called phenylethylamine lurks. This is the same molecule as the one released by our brains when we struck by passion. To get in the Valentine’s mindset, a gift of chocolate will do the trick!

If your loved one is neither a scent nor a sugar person, how about a bottle of their favourite spirit. A whiskey they’ve never tried, a new wild-foraged gin… this could be an ideal gift, especially for the Valentine’s Day sceptics out there.

Friends is also love

No romantic partner? Celebrate love anyway — with friends!

Love comes in all forms, and it deserves to be celebrated! Celebrate the friends in your life by planning a fun dinner or weekend getaway.

For the ladies, it’s becoming ever-more popular to do something fun and sparkly together on “Galentine’s Day” on February 13th. We’re big fans. Again, any chance we can get to spread love, smell roses, and eat chocolate is just fine by us!

So there you have our 5 best tips for celebrating Valentine’s Day. We hope they have been helpful. Book your tickets and surprise your darling on the day of love. Enjoy! /Ylva.