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This surprising sport has cruisers obsessed, and 1 cruise line is stepping up its game

Dec. 14, 2022
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4 min read
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This surprising sport has cruisers obsessed, and 1 cruise line is stepping up its game
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What's fast and slow, appeals to all ages and will soon be amplified across Holland America's fleet? The answer might surprise you — particularly because it's a sport, and sports aren't exactly synonymous with cruises.

It's pickleball, a tennislike game played on a smaller court with solid, rectangular paddles, Wiffle balls and different rules. It was previously a game popular among retirees but is now one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States, even for younger age groups.

So, what does pickleball have to do with cruising? For years, Holland America Line has had courts on all of its ships, and now it has been named the official cruise line of the Professional Pickleball Association.

Per the new partnership, the line will outfit every single one of its vessels with a new pickleball court by April 2023, and members of each onboard fitness crew will offer free beginner-level lessons for passengers interested in learning the game.

Four guests playing pickleball on a cruise ship
Passengers play pickleball on Holland America's Volendam. HOLLAND AMERICA LINE

"Wait a minute," you might be thinking. "I remember playing this in high school gym class. There's such a thing as professional pickleball?" The answer is yes, and it's serious, with several major competitions held each year.

"We're proud to offer our guests an elevated pickleball experience as they travel to spectacular and scenic cruise destinations," said Kacy Cole, vice president of marketing for Holland America Line, in a statement. "Mirroring its rapid growth as the fastest growing sport in the U.S., pickleball is the most popular sport on our ships."

In addition to in-person lessons, Holland America will also offer video tutorials on the TVs in its passenger cabins, and cruisers can purchase PPA Tour-branded equipment kits (prices to be determined) in the vessels' onboard shops.

For anyone not needing instruction, there will be scheduled open-play pickleball time on every voyage, and equipment will be made available to borrow for cruisers not wishing to purchase their own kits.

Passengers play pickleball on Holland America's Nieuw Statendam. HOLLAND AMERICA LINE

But Holland America isn't the only cruise line that includes the sport on its list of activities. Several ships in the Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleets also have sports courts that can be used to play pickleball, along with set times for play throughout each sailing.

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"Pickleball has become immensely popular among travel and leisure business categories because it is uniquely accessible, compatible with a variety of brands, and transcends a wide spectrum of age groups and lifestyles," said Connor Pardoe, commissioner and CEO of the PPA Tour, in a statement.

"This ageless sport welcomes players young and old, fast or slow," added Theresa Haynie, a founding board member of the Seattle Metro Pickleball Association and an International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association instructor. "It's a fun game to teach and even more fun to learn. Now with pickleball on board ships with this wonderful partnership, cruisers and players have one more adventure to experience and take home with them."

Have cruise questions? TPG has answers:

Featured image by HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
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  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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