AmaWaterways Cruises and Amadeus River Cruises ships are introducing pickleball courts on their ships this year, according to travelawaits.com.
The Association of Pickleball Professionals says 36,5million people were playing the game last year. Combining tennis, badminton and ping-pong, it is played as a singles or doubles game on a badminton-sized court using paddles and a plastic ball with holes.
AmaMagna, the AmaWaterways flagship that offers Danube River cruises, recently launched the first full-sized pickleball court on a river cruise ship with a netted fence around the court. However, guests are only be able to play when the ship is docked, because the net needs to be removed in order to pass under certain bridges.
Amadeus River Cruises will launch pickleball itineraries hosted by Hungarian pickleball champion Zoltan Boehm later this year, featuring shore excursions and extension packages centred around the sport, reports travel.weekly.com.
