There is a moment every year when the sea makes itself felt even far from the coast. It happens under the Christmas tree, when among the packages, colored paper, and soft lights, objects appear that evoke distant routes, salty adventures, and stories of pirates, explorers, and sailors.
Gifts that smell of the ocean and, surprisingly, manage to bring different generations together: adults, who rediscover the joy of storytelling and dreaming, and children, who find whole worlds to build, dismantle, and reinvent in those stories. Among the endless ideas reviewed in the run-up to Christmas, those with a marine theme continue to exert a special charm. Because the sea is not just a place: it is a shared imagination, a universal language made up of adventure, freedom, and discovery.
And it is precisely the little ones who are worth starting with, because they are often the ones who set the course. This year, LEGO has decided to set sail with full sails, expanding a fleet that in recent years has already delighted collectors and enthusiasts of all ages. The new releases are part of a tradition that has seen the birth of iconic sets such as the monumental Titanic, capable of transforming a myth of naval history into an almost museum-like construction object, and the more recent Endurance, a refined tribute to the great age of exploration and the ship that symbolizes modern ocean racing. These pieces have raised the bar, demonstrating how the sea can become story, memory, and design.
The LEGO fleet: from great myths to new pop icons
This year’s new releases follow this route, starting with the return of one of the most recognizable vessels in pop culture: Jack Sparrow’s Black Pearl. Not just a simple construction set, but a concentration of details, atmospheres, and references that speak directly to those who grew up with Pirates of the Caribbean and those who are discovering it for the first time today.
Masts, dark sails, cannons, and secret cabins: building it is already an adventure, displaying it becomes a manifesto of rebellious spirit. Next to it is another ship laden with cinema and nostalgia: the Goonies’ vessel. A tribute to one of the cult films of the 1980s, capable of transforming a pirate ship into a symbol of friendship, courage, and freedom. Here, the sea is that of childhood, of hand-drawn maps and dreams that take shape piece by piece. A set that speaks to parents as much as it does to children, creating a rare shared playground.
Completing the fleet is the pirate ship from One Piece, dedicated to one of the most beloved narrative universes of recent years. An ideal bridge between contemporary pop culture and seafaring tradition, where the sea is the theater of epic adventures, unbreakable bonds, and boundless journeys. New ships join those already in the collective imagination, creating an ideal fleet that spans different eras and styles, but remains anchored to a single certainty: the sea continues to be an inexhaustible source of inspiration.
Putting them under the tree means giving much more than a game. It means offering time, stories to share, afternoons spent building together, and evenings inventing new routes. Because, after all, the best gift is always one that lets you travel. Even when you’re standing still.
Books to sail through: the sea through images, stories, and inspiration
Alongside games and objects to build, there is always room under the tree for another great classic: books. Even better if they are capable of evoking the sea, bringing summer to mind even in the heart of winter and igniting the desire to set off while the days outside are getting shorter. Books that do not just tell stories, but invite you to travel. In this sense, the offerings from Assouline remain a benchmark for those looking for volumes that combine content, imagery, and editorial care.
James Bond Cars: when adventure also takes to the water
The title could be misleading, suggesting an exclusive focus on cars. In reality, Chris Corbould’s James Bond Cars is a journey through the filmography of the most iconic secret agent ever, where, alongside cars, there is also room for the boats that feature in some of the most memorable scenes in the saga. Fast boats, amphibious vehicles such as the famous Lotus Esprit “Wet Nellie,” and boats that transform the sea into a natural extension of the action. A visual narrative that alternates between land and water, asphalt and waves, conveying all the charm of Bond’s adventures.
Terence Disdale: the sea as habitable architecture
Alongside James Bond, there is also room under the tree for figures who have truly redesigned the sea. This is the case with Terence Disdale: My Art of Yacht Design, a book by Marilyn M. Mower and Roger Lean-Vercoe. Since 1973, Disdale has helped redefine the way we live at sea, designing some of the world’s most recognizable superyachts. The book offers a privileged glimpse into his creative process, with unpublished photographs and iconic designs, describing the sea as a space to inhabit, design, and interpret.
Wine & Travel – Mediterranean Islands
Then there is the sea that tells its story through flavors. Wine & Travel – Mediterranean Islands, by Enrico Bernardo, takes the reader on a journey through the islands of the Mediterranean, where wine, culture, and landscape intertwine. Not a classic guidebook, but an invitation to explore places, people, and traditions, following the slow pace of island life. A perfect gift for those who love the sea even at the table.
An electric sea: the BMW SUP that looks to the future
Closing the list of gifts with a marine flavor is a forward-looking proposal: BMW x SipaBoards, the first electric stand-up paddleboard by BMW. Born from a collaboration with SipaBoards, it brings the concept of electric mobility to the water, combining design, technology, and sustainability.
A silent motor, zero emissions, paddle assistance, and connectivity transform the SUP into a new way of experiencing the sea. A gift under the tree that already smells like summer. Because, after all, the best gift is always the one that lets you travel. Even when you’re standing still. At least until it’s time to set sail again.
Matteo Zaccagnino
