The League’s First Singles Cruise Will Set Sail This Summer

The singles cruise is getting a millennial-friendly makeover this August, thanks to a new partnership between up-and-coming cruise operator U by Uniworld and exclusive dating app The League.

"A lot of our users on the app are saying that they're really sick of the first date," said Brianna Haag, The League's head of events and partnerships. "People want different types of experiences. They don't want the interview plus cocktail at a bar."

The League’s answer to bar fatigue is a weeklong adventure that will take place along France's Seine River. The itinerary includes stops at Rouen, Honfleur, Vernon and Paris, with excursions like biking along the Seine and touring the Palace of Versailles. While aboard the ship, guests can experience a spa, silent discos, farm-to-table cuisine, wine tastings and (we assume) plenty of opportunities to live out their sexy sailor fantasies.

The League is not the first dating app to test the waters of real-life experiences. Coffee Meets Bagel announced a sleepaway camp, fittingly called Camp Meets Bagel, earlier this year. Bumble launched its first brick-and-mortar space in New York City last June. Tinder managed to get itself kicked out of the Hamptons for hosting raucous parties last July.

A spokesperson for The League offered a scientific explanation for the company’s decision to take on the trend.

“New environments contribute to ‘positive stress’ which raises adrenaline levels – and higher levels of adrenaline means that you are more likely to find people attractive,” the spokesperson wrote in an email.

A U by Uniworld spokesperson called the partnership with The League “a dating win-win.”

“Already, more than 45 percent of The League members report meeting someone through the app; adding a new twist can only up those numbers,” they said. “A U by Uniworld cruise is a unique and fun way to travel – bringing adventurous and curious people together to experience new destinations. The intimate environment of our ships and our small group excursions provide the perfect opportunity to meet new people.”

U by Uniworld added: “U is the very first river cruise brand dedicated to offering immersive and adventurous experiences for a new generation of adult travelers. The League attracts a like-minded audience, so it’s a great partnership.”

This isn’t either company’s first foray into similar spaces. The League has previously hosted ski weeks in Telluride and Vail, Colorado, while U by Uniworld invited the cast of season 22 of the ABC TV series The Bachelor to film an episode on the same ship that will be used for the singles cruise.

The eight-day voyage embarks on August 11, 2018, and costs $2,319/per person, which includes accommodation, meals and beverages, onboard activities and several shore excursions. Only members of the app are invited to take part; those who want to join especially for this trip are asked to fill out an application and send it to The League with the message #TAKEMETOFRANCE.

So far, nearly 2,600 League users have applied to break out of the bar rut, though only 100 will ultimately be granted permission to come aboard in August.