Holland America Line has announced plans to host an exclusive pickleball tournament at its private island destination in the Bahamas, with passengers on a selected Caribbean cruise in March 2027 being offered the opportunity to attend.
The Private Island Invitational will take place at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, as part of the cruise line’s partnership with the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA).
The event forms part of a wider programme of pickleball activities planned across five Caribbean sailings between November 2026 and March 2027, although attendance at the island tournament will be restricted to passengers travelling on one particular departure.
Holland America has confirmed that places will be limited and that guests wishing to attend must purchase a separate event ticket in addition to booking the qualifying cruise.
Only One Caribbean Sailing Will Offer Tournament Access
The Private Island Invitational will be available exclusively to passengers booked on Nieuw Statendam’s seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise departing on 7th March 2027.
The itinerary, marketed as Eastern Caribbean: San Juan & St. Thomas, includes a visit to RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, where the tournament will be held.
Passengers hoping to attend will need to meet two requirements: they must be booked on the qualifying sailing and must also purchase a ticket for the event.
Holland America has not yet announced ticket prices or confirmed when sales will open. The cruise line has indicated that tickets will be available through its MyCruise platform, with passengers encouraged to register following their cruise booking.
The company has also not disclosed the tournament’s full schedule, competition format or whether professional pickleball players will participate.
Although the event is being organised in partnership with the PPA, Holland America has not confirmed whether passengers will be able to compete in the tournament or whether attendance will be limited to spectators.
The March event coincides with celebrations marking 30 years of Half Moon Cay as a cruise destination.
Five Cruises To Feature Special Pickleball Activities
While the Private Island Invitational is restricted to the March departure, Holland America is introducing additional pickleball programming on four earlier Caribbean cruises.
The programme begins in November 2026 and continues into January 2027 before concluding with the March sailing.
The five participating departures are:
20th November 2026: Nieuw Amsterdam, nine-night Southern Caribbean cruise.
12th December 2026: Zuiderdam, seven-night Western Caribbean: Greater Antilles & Mexico cruise.
2nd January 2027: Eurodam, seven-night Eastern Caribbean: Amber Cove & Bahamas cruise.
23rd January 2027: Eurodam, seven-night Eastern Caribbean: Amber Cove & Bahamas cruise.
7th March 2027: Nieuw Statendam, seven-night Eastern Caribbean: San Juan & St. Thomas
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