An agent has organised a pickleball festival at sea for 62 guests, and he’ll be joining them on the ship.
Swindon Travel Hub co-founder and Sales Director Shaun Jones, who is also the founder of Swindon Pickleball Club, is hosting the trip for players from around the country on MSC Virtuosa during a three-night mini-cruise from Southampton on 16 October.
The booking, for 35 cabins, is worth around £30,000.
The festival sold out within three weeks of Shaun placing an advert on Facebook through the Pickleball England Association.
“I was on a Silversea cruise in 2021 and met a pickleball player from the US,” said Shaun. “I was intrigued by it and decided to have a go at playing when I got home. I have been playing ever since and set up my local club in 2023.
“We already host festivals for players across the country, and pickleball is getting bigger. I do a lot of cruise and I knew that MSC would have the facilities in the Sportsplex and decided to organise it. We had an amazing response and have people coming from across the country, so it’s great to build a community.”
Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis for two to four players on a badminton-sized court.
During the three-day cruise, Shaun’s group will have a few hours of pickleball each day, with friendly matches and coaching.
MSC Cruises National Account Manager Colin Rillie-Caldwell worked with Shaun on the booking. “I didn’t know what pickleball was until Shaun mentioned it, and now it’s everywhere,” he said. “It’s great to have the group onboard, and our events team will ensure everything is taken care of for them.”
Shaun has already started organising the next event, in September 2026 at Sandals South Coast in Jamaica, which has dedicated pickleball courts.
He said: “It’s great to be planning more trips and offering people opportunities to play, knowing that they have ATOL protection.”
Pictured: Shaun Jones and Colin Rillie-Caldwell at the Barrhead Travel conference in Dubrovnik this week
