Holland America Private Island Pickleball Debuts

PRESS RELEASE
Holland America Line celebrated the grand opening of 4 pickleball courts that had been added to Relax Away, Half Moon Cay, the cruise line’s personal island within the Bahamas. The brand new courts are a part of an island enhancement that additionally contains refurbished facilities and new experiences all through the pristine oasis.

To inaugurate the brand new courts, friends on Rotterdam and Eurodam competed in a pleasant pickleball event whereas visiting December 6. This week additionally marks the twenty eighth anniversary of the opening of the award-winning island recognized for its white sandy seashores and crystal-clear waters.

“Pickleball has develop into one in all our hottest actions throughout the fleet, so including courts to our personal island lets friends benefit from the sport in one of the crucial beautiful settings conceivable,” stated Michael Smith, senior vice chairman of visitor expertise and product improvement for Holland America Line. “All the enhancements construct on what makes the island so particular, creating much more methods for friends to chill out and luxuriate in their day. We’re persevering with to raise the Chill out Away, Half Moon Cay expertise whereas preserving its uncrowded seashores and unspoiled allure.”

As the primary and solely cruise line associate of the Skilled Pickleball Affiliation, all Holland America Line ships characteristic top-deck pickleball courts. With the addition of the courts to Chill out Away, Half Moon Cay, friends who love the sport can play whereas visiting the secluded island. The island’s pickleball courts are situated within the sports activities space, which additionally options basketball, volleyball and soccer. Extra actions resembling tai-chi happen on the seaside in entrance of the Lobster Shack, the place crew members host family-friendly occasions resembling seaside ball relays, scavenger hunts and sandcastle contests, in addition to ring toss and shell-collecting challenges.

Along with the brand new pickleball courts, friends visiting Chill out Away, Half Moon Cay, will discover much more methods to unwind and play. Cabanas and day beds had been refreshed, whereas the addition of additional seaside chairs ensures extra locations to chill out on the seaside. New clamshell loungers additionally will probably be added in time for the vacations.

Chill out Away, Half Moon Cay options 15 personal cabanas for lease whereas on the island. Every was renovated with new umbrellas, seaside loungers, recent paint and decking — every part wanted for a picture-perfect day within the solar. Visitors who e-book a cabana additionally obtain complimentary snacks and drinks, in addition to floating mats and snorkel gear to be used all through the day.

Visitors who get pleasure from lounging on the seaside can chill out on a complimentary seaside chair, with 500 just lately added to broaden capability alongside the crescent-shaped stretch of golden shoreline. New and improved clamshell sunshades — widespread for renting — will arrive earlier than the vacations.

This winter, Holland America Line will renovate the two-story Villas on the island, and by subsequent season a brand new meals pavilion will probably be open for friends that can complement the present pavilion, which serves an Island Barbecue lunch that includes Caribbean flavors.

Chill out Away, Half Moon Cay is on almost each Holland America Line Caribbean cruise. Whether or not on a weeklong getaway or a 21-day Collectors’ Voyage, all friends will go to the personal island on their Caribbean itinerary.

Chill out Away, Half Moon Cay — Celebrating 28 Years

This month marks the twenty eighth anniversary of Holland America Line’s personal island as a vacation spot. Through the years, the cruise line has maintained Chill out Away, Half Moon Cay’s pristine panorama and fame as a seaside paradise whereas providing experiences and facilities designed to create unforgettable moments. From the pure 700-acre lagoon and youngsters’s waterpark to dozens of shore excursions and scrumptious eateries like Lobster Shack, Chill out Away, Half Moon Cay continues to uphold its standing because the highest-rated Caribbean port by Holland America Line friends.

Caribbean 2025-2026 Cruise Season

Vacationers seeking to discover the Caribbean have almost 30 totally different Holland America Line itineraries to select from on six ships from now by way of April 2026. Cruisers can discover the japanese, western and southern areas of the Caribbean, in addition to a partial Panama Canal transit.

The 7-Day Western Caribbean itinerary departing March 1, 2026, gives friends per week in paradise. Swim beneath waterfalls in Jamaica, dine al fresco at Georgetown’s famend eating places, and snorkel Cozumel’s fish-filled reefs on a voyage crusing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Along with weeklong getaways, Holland America Line gives longer Caribbean cruises from 9 to 14 days, that includes extra islands on one itinerary. Again-to-back sailings could be mixed into Collectors’ Voyages so friends can get pleasure from a number of areas in a single seamless trip. Particular December cruises make it enjoyable and simple to have a good time the winter holidays within the tropics.

The 14-Day Eastern Caribbean voyage departing February 28, 2026, guarantees two weeks of discovery and rest. Unwind on Turks and Caicos’ white-sand seashores, discover Dominican historical past and savor Bahamian delicacies. Zip-line by way of lush landscapes within the U.S. Virgin Islands after which discover UNESCO World Heritage websites in Puerto Rico on this roundtrip journey from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.