A combination of tennis, ping pong and badminton, the sport of pickleball has taken the United States by storm in recent years, but it actually traces its roots back to Washington State in the 1960s when, in an attempt to entertain their families, a trio of friends cobbled together a new game using an old badminton net, ping pong paddles and a plastic ball.

Fast forward 60 years, and pickleball has been recognized as the fastest-growing sport, its popularity surging more than 300 percent over the past three years. It attracts players of all ages because it is beginner-friendly and space-efficient, too: Due to its light material, the ball travels more slowly than a tennis ball, requiring a court about one-third the size of a tennis court.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the sport set its sights on cruise ships, and cruise lines are more than ready to welcome pickleballers to “shake and bake” on board with dedicated courts and equipment on loan; serious players bring their own gear with them.

“Integrating pickleball allows cruise lines to capitalize on the sport’s massive popularity across all age groups, providing a space-efficient and socially engaging activity that aligns with modern wellness trends,” said Julie Talerico, editorial director, Pickleball Magazine. “By offering dedicated courts and professional partnerships, brands like Holland America and Royal Caribbean are successfully attracting a more active demographic of travelers who prioritize fitness and community, even while at sea.”

The experts at the Sports & Fitness Industry Association agree, noting cruise lines are likely adding pickleball courts because of the sport’s booming popularity, especially among older and more affluent demographics. Highly social and requiring minimal gear makes the sport a great addition to cruise ships.

Picklers who enjoy spending time in the “kitchen” or elsewhere on the pickleball court find plenty of opportunities to do just that when they set sail.

Four years ago Holland America Line was named the exclusive Official Cruise Line of the Professional Pickleball Association; in late 2022 the line outfitted all of its ships fleetwide with refreshed pickleball courts. Also on board each ship, a dedicated sports director offers beginner lessons and arranges matches — and even tournaments — among passengers.

“Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., and for many of our guests it’s part of their daily lifestyle, so it made perfect sense to weave it even more deeply into the Holland America Line experience,” said Michael Smith, senior vice president, Guest Experience and Product Development, Holland America Line.

“As the exclusive cruise line partner of the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA), we’ve collaborated with them to create an experience unlike any other at sea, with pickleball courts on every ship, a sports director offering basic instruction, and now the opportunity to play on our private island, RelaxAway Half Moon Cay,” Smith added. “We know staying active matters to our guests, and there’s no better way to do that on a cruise than playing pickleball — whether it’s amidst Alaska’s glaciers or the white-sand serenity of RelaxAway Half Moon Cay.”

© PRINCESS CRUISES

Other cruise lines followed suit: Princess Cruises listened to its guests’ feedback and converted some of its existing ships’ tennis courts to pickleball courts and is installing game-specific courts on its new ships such as Sun Princess and Star Princess, the latter of which set sail last fall. Additionally, Silversea debuted pickleball courts on select ships in recent months, and courts can be found on myriad cruise ships, including those sailing with Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Royal Caribbean. On the rivers, AmaWaterways was the first river cruise line to offer pickleball to its guests.