Why not surprise your Valentine with the gift of a boating holiday

Did you know that in addition to our boats for crews of families and friends Nicols also have models of smaller canal boats that are ideal for just two people. They’re just as easy to navigate and just as comfortable onboard so all you need to worry about is enjoying moments such as a romantic dinner alfresco style onboard and falling asleep to the peaceful sound of the water.

An exceptional Valentine’s Day gift for you both

February isn’t the best month weather-wise for travelling on Europe’s inland waterways and the majority of our Nicols bases won’t open until towards the end of March, but our option of giving a boating holiday gift voucher as a Valentine’s present is just as exciting for the lucky recipient. It truly is a unique gift that you both can enjoy.

Maybe you’ll want to return to a place you’ve been to together before… or explore a new destination for the first time as a couple – either way with bases all across France, in Germany, Portugal, Hungary Netherlandsand the Ireland, Nicols has an array of unforgettable breaks where you can enjoy time together away from the hustles and bustles of everyday life.

Your romantic break isn’t just all about life onboard. On and around the waterways you travel you’ll find an abundance of places to see and things to do – from shopping for local products, fine wining and dining and places of historic and cultural interest that all will help create exceptional holiday memories for you both.

Canal boats that are perfect for two

There are two canal boats from the wide range of boat models within the Nicols fleet that stand out as being ideal for couples. These are the ‘Estivale Duo’ and the ‘Sedan Primo’ – both of which have a single double cabin that’s separate to the main living area.

There’s not a big difference between the two models with both being remarkably spacious for a small boat as well as equipped with everything you’ll need. The Estivale Duo is great if you’re travelling in the main summer season as it has the second steering position on the top deck. Although the Sedan Primo doesn’t have this extra steering position it does have a dual purpose roof – allowing an abundance of light in even when closed but on lovely weather days you can simply pull back the sliding sunroof for letting the sun and a breeze into your cockpit.

Both boats are equipped with a kitchen with fridge, hob and oven, living area with table and seating and then outside garden furniture on the rear terrace – perfect for lunch or dinner outdoors.

For the ultimate treat why not get dinner delivered?

Although our canal boats have everything you’ll need to rustle up a meal onboard why not make the experience super special by arranging to have a restaurant made meal delivered to your boat.

Alternatively, most of the waterways have waterside restaurants and bars that you can visit for a meal. Some will even have their own mooring jetty so you can drive your canal boat right up to their door almost! 

Seek the advice of our experienced base teams

As experts of each of our regions the base managers and their teams are the best people to ask when it comes to arranging a romantic meal. They can also point you in the direction of some of the most beautiful stop-off points and secret corners – places where you can relax in a stunning setting with only the noises of nature to disturb you.

Find your own secret corner

Beyond the advice of our base teams, why not set out to find your very own secret corner – there’s certainly no shortage of them on our waterways.

The advantages of hiring a smaller canal boat such as the Estivale Duo or the Sedan Primo is that their smaller size makes them easy to handle and get closer to the banks and into mooring spots that other larger boats might struggle with. All we ask is that once you’ve found a new secret corner you share it with us!

No previous boating experience needed

Don't worry, river and canal navigation is easy to learn and our base managers will be happy to teach you the basics of manoeuvring, mooring and going through locks so that nothing, strictly nothing, gets in the way of the well-being of your romantic boating holiday.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all!