Are you a sports enthusiast that enjoys a good game <\/span>and<\/span> friendly competition? Would you like to explore fun sports activities on a cruise ship, like pickleball, ping pong, shuffleboard and more? Whether <\/span>you\u2019re<\/span> a beginner or a pro, Holland America Line has plenty of onboard cruise activities to help you break a sweat and try something new, and we have amazing sports directors like Lauren to cheer you on along the way. From <\/span>Tai Chi<\/span> steps<\/span> and morning walks to double bounces and tournament tallies, Lauren is your onboard guide to a good game.<\/span> She loves what she does, and it shows.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> \u201cI love traveling. I love the company. I love interacting with guests,\u201d she said. \u201cI grew up playing sports, so I knew this would be a fun position.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Lauren\u2019s day begins before 7 a.m. when she heads to the upper deck to guide guests through a sunrise stroll or Tai Chi. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI absolutely love Tai Chi. I got really, really invested in it thanks to our guests. Sometimes they\u2019ll share feedback based on their own experience with Tai Chi, and I try to incorporate their recommendations to make the learning experience even better.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n After a sunrise activity, she heads to her first pickleball lesson followed by a tournament. Then the afternoon is packed with other sporting events like cornhole, shuffleboard and ping pong. Later she\u2019ll host a dance class and another event, closing the afternoon with more pickleball lessons. During the evening, she helps with game shows and other entertainment activities. It\u2019s a packed day that keeps Lauren on her toes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI love the job. It\u2019s fun. It\u2019s a lot of physical activity, and it makes me feel like I don\u2019t have to go to the gym at the end of the day!\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While there are so many options to choose from to stay active, Lauren has noticed the popularity of and passion for pickleball<\/a><\/span>. Holland America Line is the <\/span>exclusive official cruise line<\/a><\/span> of the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA), and our crew and guests can\u2019t get enough of it. Whether you\u2019re taking complimentary lessons or playing in a tournament on board, you can enjoy a good game at sea with the ocean or incredible landscapes as your backdrop.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat I like most about pickleball is how welcoming everyone is for those who want to play. I\u2019ve hosted tournaments where new people are convinced to play by the other players. People are willing to help and teach each other. The community is quite friendly.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> We asked Lauren what tips she would offer to newcomers, and she said it really comes down to \u201ca few things outside of the basic rules associated with net games, like what is considered in court versus out of court.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe most important thing to know about is the non-volley zone, which is also known as the kitchen. The kitchen is the area closest to the net. You can\u2019t stand in that area and hit the ball without the ball having bounced first. That\u2019s why sometimes you may hear people say, \u2018get out of the kitchen.\u2019 The other main rule is the double bounce rule. The first two times the ball crosses over the net, it has to bounce before someone hits it. It then has to bounce when it\u2019s returned to the serving team. After that it\u2019s a free-for-all, and you can just hit it without it bouncing, except in the kitchen.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To serve, Lauren said you stand behind the base line and then serve diagonally across the court into the back block as an underhand shot. You can either drop it and let it bounce before serving or serve the ball without it bouncing at all.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In addition to sports, Lauren loves photography. She has captured many spectacular moments while cruising Alaska<\/a><\/span>, from wildlife<\/a><\/span>\u00a0to icy-blue glaciers.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Four](\"https:\/\/www.hollandamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/pickleball-koningsdam-holland-america-line.webp\" "\\"Pickleball")
<\/span><\/div>Guests have a friendly pickleball competition during their cruise.\u00a0<\/em><\/h5>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>