Pickleball exploded in popularity, with player numbers growing nearly 160% in just three years. Cruise ships take advantage of America’s fastest growing sport, and some ships are even adding courts to their cruise ships.
AmaWaterways is the first company to add coats to river cruise ships, joining the ranks of large ocean cruise lines doing the same for their own fleets.
Cruise ships profit from pickleball’s growing popularity
according to Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) Topline Participation Reportpickleball participation increased by 85.7% from 2021 to 2022, recording a staggering 158.6% increase in three years.
Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour Commissioner and CEO Conor Pardeau said: explain“Pickleball is very popular in the travel and leisure business category because of its unique accessibility, compatibility with various brands, and crossing the spectrum of age groups and lifestyles.”
That’s why major players in the cruise industry are profiting from adding pickleball courts to the top decks of their cruise ships. Like cruisers boarding the court while vacationing on the oceans and rivers of the world, it is expected to reach a wider audience, possibly younger audiences, and attract new guests.
Pickleball joins list of entertainment and exercises available on cruise ships
Cruise ships continue to find new ways to entertain their guests. The result is something more thrilling, like watching bartenders impress guests with their tasteful bartending skills and cocktail-movie antics, or ziplining across part of the top deck of a giant ship. And so on, there is no shortage of things to do.
Entertainment and wellness often intersect, like riding an electric bike through the European countryside during a river cruise or signing up for a dance lesson on an ocean cruise.
Pickleball offers an even wider range of activities on board your cruise ship. This growing sport is the perfect active entertainment for your guests to participate in.
Cruise ships with pickleball courts
AmaWaterways is the first river cruise line to offer pickleball
In late April, AmaWaterways became the first river cruise company to announce the addition of pickleball. A pickleball court is installed on the ship “Ama Magna” that carries guests. Danube cruise.
The courthouse is located on the spacious ship’s sundeck, which is almost twice as wide as a traditional river cruise ship. Guests can swing her pickleball paddle while sailing through Austria’s stunningly beautiful Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Landscape. Many people book Danube cruises because of the rolling hills and Castle Dürnstein. From now on, pickleball is another reason to book an AmaWaterways cruise.
Holland America Line: First Cruise Line to Premierize Onboard Pickleball
The first cruise line to announce the introduction of pickleball was holland america line In partnership with PPA, HAL has installed courts on all ships. In addition, HAL offers free beginner lessons with onboard instructors to help guests learn the game.
Casey Cole, vice president of marketing, Holland America Line, said: “I like to say that travel brings us together, but sports does that too. Holland America Line is proud to be PPA’s first exclusive cruise line partner.” is pleased to offer an elevated pickleball experience for guests traveling to these spectacular and scenic cruise destinations.
“Reflecting our rapid growth as the fastest growing sport in the United States, pickleball is the most popular sport on our ships. The ever-changing scenery makes for the perfect backdrop for a pickleball.”
Additionally, HAL provides pickleball tutorials on all Stateroom TV shows. A pickleball starter equipment set is also available for purchase at retail if guests wish to own equipment.
“Playing pickleball is about making new friends from your neighborhood and around the world. This timeless sport welcomes players, fast and slow, young and old,” says Seattle Metro. Theresa Haney, Founding Director of the Pickleball Association and Instructor of the International Association of Pickleball Teaching Professionals.
“It’s a fun game to teach, but it’s even more fun to learn. This amazing partnership will bring a pickleball on board, allowing cruisers and players to experience and take back another adventure.”
Additional Cruise Lines Offer Pickleball
Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruises, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent’s Seven Seas Explorer, Virgin Voyages, Oceania Cruises and more Revived Cruise Brand “Crystal”.
March, Celebrity Cruises announced The company plans to add pickleball courts to nine ships, including two of its newest ships. Celebrity Edge class ship navy, beyond celebrity and Celebrity Apex. The exact location of the onboard courts varies from ship to ship.
Benefits of eating pickleballs on cruise ships
As the sport grows in popularity, travelers are demanding cruise ships with these amenities. A cruise company with a pickleball court would attract these cruisers.
Additionally, pickleball courts take up less space than many other court sports, so more courts can be fitted on board given the space required to accommodate cruise ships.
What is Pickleball?
Combining elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis creates a relatively new sport: pickleball. It was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, just west of Seattle in the Puget Sound.
This court sport is played with two opponents in a singles match, or four players in two opposing teams, like doubles in tennis. The ball is lightweight, perforated, and sized between a wiffle ball and a ping pong ball. A racket or paddle is used to play the game. It is also a combination of tennis racket and table tennis paddle sizes and materials.
A pickleball net sits several inches lower than a tennis court, reaching 34 inches in height at the center of the net compared to 36 inches in tennis. Also, the total area of a pickleball court is smaller than a tennis court. North State Resurfacing is a company that specializes in North Carolina courthouse resurfacing. share it Done right, you can turn one tennis court into four pickleball courts.
Pickleball is primarily a social game, requiring players to get up and communicating quickly, regardless of their level of play.
There are two fun stories behind Origin of the name of the sport. But whichever you believe, Pickleball’s quirky title is just as much fun as its ease of play.
Play pickleball on your next cruise
If you’re interested in pickleball, sign up for your next cruise based on a cruise ship with a pickleball court. Make new friends, work out, or play a ball while enjoying the ship’s amenities.
This article was created by sometimes sailing Syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.
Co-owned and operated by Mikkel Woodruff sometimes home and sometimes sailing I run a travel website with my husband Dan.
They call the East Coast of the United States home, travel nationally and internationally, inspiring people to seek new experiences and explore new places through inspirational content.
