by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 11:50 AM ET, Wed September 30, 2026
Holland America Line is bringing pickleball to a setting where the sport has never been played professionally before: a private Caribbean island.
The cruise line, the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP) will host the first-ever “Private Island Invitational” at the newly enhanced RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay during a Caribbean cruise.
The event will take place March 13, 2027, during Nieuw Statendam’s seven-day”Eastern Caribbean: San Juan & St. Thomas” cruise, which departs March 7. Professional pickleball players will compete on four new courts at Holland America’s private island in the Bahamas.
The event coincides with Holland America’s 30th anniversary of RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, which the cruise line has operated as a private island destination since 1997.
“At Holland America Line, we believe experiences are too good to hurry through,” says Kacy Cole, Holland America Line’s chief marketing officer. “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 Private Island Invitational will be preceded by four “Countdown Cruises” featuring special pickleball programming and appearances by PPA professionals.
Guests on those sailings will have opportunities to participate in activities including coffee chats with PPA players, pickleball-themed trivia, meet-and-greets, onboard lessons and a professional clinic at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay. Holland America Line says the specific players appearing on each sailing will be announced later.
The Countdown Cruises are:
Nov. 20, 2026: Nine-day Southern Caribbean aboard Nieuw Amsterdam
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Dec. 12, 2026: Seven-day Western Caribbean: Greater Antilles and Mexico aboard Zuiderdam
Jan. 2, 2027: Seven-day Eastern Caribbean: Amber Cove and Bahamas aboard Eurodam
Jan. 23, 2027: Seven-day Eastern Caribbean: Amber Cove and Bahamas aboard Eurodam
The island invitational builds on Holland America’s existing pickleball program, which is available across the cruise line’s fleet. Each ship has at least one pickleball court, along with equipment, beginner instruction and open play.
“This exciting new offering from the PPA, MLP and Holland America Line, the Private Island Invitational competition at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, shows how pickleball is a sport that can truly be enjoyed anywhere,” says Jacob Cohen, chief revenue officer for PPA & MLP. “We can’t think of a better setting for a professional invitational than next to the pristine beaches of this tranquil private island.”
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