Holland America is to host a special event in March, with the Professional Pickleball Association Tour and Major League Pickleball's "Private Island Invitational" scheduled to take place at the cruise line's private island, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay.
The pro Pickleball event takes place on new courts on the island, on 13 March 2027, as part of a seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise to San Juan and St Thomas, aboard Holland America's Nieuw cruise ship.
Before the invitational, Holland America will run four "Countdown Cruises" with onboard pickleball programming and appearances by PPA players, including coffee chats, trivia, meet-and-greets, lessons and a pro clinic on the island.
The Countdown Cruises are: a 9-day Southern Caribbean sailing on Nieuw Amsterdam departing November 20; a 7-day Western Caribbean sailing on Zuiderdam departing December 12; and two 7-day Eastern Caribbean sailings on Eurodam departing January 2 and January 23, 2027.
Names of the pros appearing on each sailing will be announced in the coming months, the cruise line said.
"We can't think of a better setting for a professional invitational than next to the pristine beaches of this tranquil private island," said Jacob Cohen, chief revenue officer for PPA and MLP.
"At Holland America Line, we believe experiences are too good to hurry through," said Kacy Cole, Holland America Line's chief marketing officer.
Cole, meanwhile, added: "That's why bringing the first-ever professional pickleball invitational to RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay feels like a perfect fit, combining the excitement of one of the world's fastest-growing sports with the unmatched beauty of one of the Caribbean's most extraordinary islands in a way only Holland America can."
The cruise line added that every ship in Holland America's fleet already has at least one pickleball court with ocean views, along with provided equipment and instructions for beginners.
The pro Pickleball event coincides with the 30th anniversary of RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay.
