Tauck has announced plans to double its small ship cruising capacity, as well as introduce a new itinerary in Cuba.

The escorted travel and river-cruise company, which celebrates its 25th small ship ocean cruising anniversary next year, has expanded its partnership with French-owned cruise line, Ponant.

The partnership will see the introduction of four new luxury cruise yachts throughout 2018 and 2019.

The first of these, Le Lapérouse, a luxury mega-yacht boasting 92 staterooms and suites, will be launched in summer 2018, with the first Tauck sailing departing on July 3 2018, on an Iceland: Land of Fire and Ice itinerary, taking in picturesque fishing villages and cosmopolitan Reykjavik.

Tauck president Jennifer Tombaugh, said: “We’re destination explorers at Tauck and some destinations are best explored by both land and sea.

“Tauck Small Ship Cruising is our first product line to sell out each year. 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.”

“Today, Tauck utilises five Ponant ships for 10 itineraries. By 2020, we’ll be sailing on nine Ponant ships, further supporting our investment in growing the category,” added Tombaugh.

2018 will also see the launch of a new Cuba itinerary for Tauck aboard the three-masted yacht, Le Ponant.

The 10-day journey, which has departures on December 14, 23 and 28 2018, explores the coastal gems between Havana and Santiago de Cuba and includes a two-night hotel sight in Havana complete with guided Tauck sightseeing.

Guests are invited to follow in Ernest Hemingway’s footsteps, vising his former winter home outside Havana, as well as the local fishing village that inspired one of his most famous novels The Old Man and The Sea.

The itinerary also offers immersive experiences in the Cuban culture through involvement in People-to-People activities including meeting local artists and dining with Cuban families at privately run paladares.