TORONTO — Pickleball is life for so many people these days, which is why the travel industry is responding in full.

A growing number of hotels, resorts and cruise ships are incorporating pickleball courts into their offerings, a sign of the sport’s increasing popularity. According to a January 2023 survey commissioned by Pickleball Canada, more than 1.37 million Canadians are now playing the sport at least once per month, with more than half playing four or more times per month. And despite popular belief, it’s not older adults who are leading the charge; growth in numbers is coming from younger adults, particularly those aged 18 to 34, with results showing a nearly 50% increase in participation among high school graduates and nearly a 70% increase among those with less than a high school education.

In an October 2023 article, Travelweek highlighted the sport’s growing appeal as well as top suppliers that have jumped on the bandwagon. The latest supplier to enter the mix, Explorateur Journeys, has taken things up a notch with a floating, inflatable pickleball court you have to see to believe.

Photo Credit: Via Croatia

Looking more like a mirage atop the Adriatic Sea, the court is held steady and strong adjacent to the M/Y Aretha. It takes the crew approximately four hours to inflate and deflate; once inflated, it remains afloat within a bay for two days. Play is not permitted during particularly choppy waters to avoid potential injuries and damage to the court. But when play is in motion, players are free to pickle to their hearts content, even without netting around the court. Says Gabriella Ribeiro, Chief Exploration Officer of Explorateur Journeys: “The crew is extremely attentive and makes every effort to retrieve any stray balls from the water.”

Ribeiro, who also tells Travelweek that the company works with Canadian travel advisors, adds that pickleball “is on fire at the moment,” from small-town gatherings and regional clubs to national and international tournaments.

“This sport engages people of all fitness levels not only with the benefits of movement but also with a very strong social aspect. We have seen a huge rise in interest for pickleball-related journeys all around the world, and as such we’ve also developed programs in Peru, Uruguay, Sicily, Indonesia and beyond.”

In addition to the inflatable court, the newly refurbished M/Y Aretha features 15 cabins with room for up to 30 guests plus 12 crew members, a vast array of water toys, a slide, jet skis, Jacuzzis, a pool, cinema, massage facilities and delicious cuisine. Seven-night chartered journeys include crew, two meals per day, special dinners, a welcome reception, Wi-Fi, sauna and fitness facilities, entertainment systems and more.All this, plus pickleball on the high seas under the Mediterranean sun? Be still our pickling hearts. Play on!

Photo Credit: Via Croatia

For more information go to https://www.explorateurjourneys.com/.