US tour operator Tauck said Wednesday that it struck a partnership agreement with Ponant that will give it access to all four of the French shipowner's newbuildings.
The Connecticut-headquartered company said the agreement is part of a plan to double capacity over four years.
Tauck spokesman Tom Armstrong tells TradeWinds that the company runs its cruises through a combination of full-ship charters or reserved cabin blocks.
Sell-out success
"Tauck Small Ship Cruising is our first product line to sell out each year," said president Jennifer Tombaugh.
"By adding new destinations and expanding our capacity with Ponant, we're able to provide more choice and more availability in order to better serve the current and growing demand."
Ponant will take delivery of the 180-berth luxury expedition ships in 2018 and 2019. Vard is building the vessels at its Tulcea, Romania, shipyard.
Headed to Iceland
Tauck will take the first of the vessels, Le Leperouse, on an Iceland cruise in July 2018. The company is already utilising Ponant's existing five-ship fleet.
Also Wednesday, Tauck announced plans to take Ponant's 67-berth Le Ponant (built 1991) to Cuba in 2018.
