Luxury expedition cruise line Ponant has announced a deal to acquire Paul Gauguin Cruises.

Ponant has a fleet of 12 smaller-scale ships, while Paul Gauguin Cruises operates the 332-passenger luxury vessel Paul Gauguin, which visits ports in Tahiti, French Polynesia, and the South Pacific.

A statement from Ponant said: “Following the acquisition, the two cruise lines will keep their management, Diane Moore acting as CEO of Paul Gauguin Cruises with her team still based in Bellevue, Washington, and Navin Sawhney acting as CEO Americas of Ponant, based in New York.”

Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée, founder and president of Ponant, said: “Our guests can now select from a wider range of iconic destinations and become enriched by cultural and expedition cruises of their choice.

“The synergy between our operations makes this the perfect collaboration while preserving the unique DNA of both brand experiences.”

Moore added: “As we join the Ponant family, we remain dedicated to our shared passion for authentic experiences, high quality service and sustainable practices.”