Pickleball courts, complimentary lessons and tutorials to be
featured fleetwide
SEATTLE, Dec. 14,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A leader in cruising is teaming
up with the leader of the fastest growing sport in the U.S., thanks
to an exciting new partnership. Holland America Line has been exclusively named as the
Official Cruise Line of the Professional Pickleball Association
(PPA) and is committed to expanding its pickleball experience at
sea for guests.
"We're excited to offer our guests an
elevated pickleball experience as they travel..."
All ships in the Holland America Line fleet feature pickleball
courts with amazing top-deck views that will be refreshed by
February 2023, including adding new
PPA Tour partner logos. Beginning in February and rolling out
fleet-wide by April 2023,
complimentary beginner lessons will be offered by shipboard
instructors who will teach guests the rules and basics of playing
pickleball, including where the "kitchen" is and what it means to
hit a "dink" shot.
"We like to say that travel unites us, but sports do that as
well, and Holland America Line is proud to be the first and
exclusive cruise line partner of the PPA. We're excited 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. "Mirroring its rapid growth as the fastest
growing sport in the U.S., pickleball is the most popular sport on
our ships. It's wonderful to see guests bond over their shared love
of the game — and the ever-changing scenery makes the perfect
pickleball backdrop."
Along with shipboard activations, "How to Play Pickleball"
tutorial videos will be featured on in-stateroom TV programming.
Guests will be able to purchase branded pickleball starter kits in
the shipboard retail shops starting in 2023.
"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. "Holland
America Line has embraced and committed to pickleball in a very
exciting way and will bring engaging, 360-degree collaborations
between its cruise line and the sport we all love."
In addition to shipboard activations, Holland America Line will
be featured on branded signage at land-based PPA tournaments across
the U.S., PPA merchandise and tour promotional materials.
Holland America Line shares a
deeper connection with PPA beyond the game — pickleball was
invented in 1965 on Bainbridge
Island in Washington state,
a short ferry ride from Seattle
where Holland America Line is headquartered.
"To play pickleball is to make new friends, from around the
neighborhood or around the world. This ageless sport welcomes
players young and old, fast or slow," said Theresa Haynie, a founding board member of
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."
For more information about Holland America Line, consult a
travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit
hollandamerica.com.
Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook,
Instagram and the Holland America Blog. You can also
access all social media outlets via the home page
at hollandamerica.com.
About Holland America Line
Holland America Line, part of Carnival Corporation and
plc (NYSE/LSE:CCL and NYSE:CUK), has been exploring the world for
150 years with expertly crafted itineraries, extraordinary service
and genuine connections to each destination. Offering an ideal
mid-sized ship experience, its fleet visits nearly 400 ports in 114
countries around the world and has shared the thrill of
Alaska for 75 years — longer than
any other cruise line. Holland America
Line's 11 vessels feature a diverse range of enriching
activities and amenities focused on destination immersion and
personalized travel. The best live music at sea fills each evening
at Music Walk, and dining venues feature exclusive selections from
a Culinary Council of world-famous chefs.
About the PPA Tour
The Professional Pickleball
Association is the professional tour for the sport of pickleball,
organizing events and rankings for the top male and female
pickleball players worldwide and awarding nearly $3 million in annual prize money offering equal
play and pay. With more than 20 events in 2022 at world-class
facilities like the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Cincinnati, Riviera Country Club in
California, and the Darling Tennis
Center and Mandalay Bay in Las
Vegas, the PPA Tour is the premier provider of professional
and amateur events. Founded in 2018 and based in Salt Lake City, UT, the PPA Tour provides an
unparalleled experience for all, inviting players to compete and
"play where the pros play," as well as offering unrivaled venues,
food/beverages, live entertainment, VIP experiences, giveaways and
games, pro player meet-and-greets, shopping, vendors, and more. For
more information, go to www.ppatour.com. See Player
Profiles and follow us on social
Twitter Instagram YouTube Facebook LinkedIn.
CONTACT: Bill Zucker,
Erik Elvejord
PHONE: 800-637-5029, 206-626-9890
EMAIL: pr@hollandamerica.com
PPA TOUR: Hannah Johns,
Content Director, h.johns@ppatour.com
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SOURCE Holland America Line