The Carnival Conquest is joining America’s latest sports craze by introducing a permanent pickleball court.
The court was added to the ship’s top deck while in drydock in September. The Conquest resumed sailing in the Caribbean on Oct. 10.
Pickleball weaves together elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong using a perforated hollow ball and solid-faced paddles. Although the game has existed for decades, its popularity is surging.
More than 4.8 million “picklers” play the sport in the U.S., according to a 2022 report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. The popularity of the sport grew by nearly 40% in the last two years, making it the fastest-growing sport. In comparison, yoga has grown 12.8% in that timeframe.
Carnival said the Conquest is the first ship with a permanent pickleball court, although other ships have basketball courts that accommodate pickleball and keep the equipment on hand.
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