PONANT Ship Charter Canceled Following Payment Dispute Tied to Crypto Arrest

The French luxury cruise company PONANT has abruptly canceled a charter for the Le Commandant Charcot ship, which was set to host 150 Russian passengers. This decision arose following the recent arrest of Iurii Gugnin, a Russian cryptocurrency entrepreneur in the United States, whose company, Evita Investments, was responsible for processing the payments for the charter.

Both PONANT and the chartering agency acknowledged Gugnin’s involvement in the payment process. The Dubai-based Russian agency TRVL, which organized the cruise, has filed a lawsuit against PONANT, claiming that despite the total charter cost being $8.5 million, PONANT has failed to refund $5.8 million following the cancellation.

PONANT, which operates a fleet of 13 vessels and is owned by the Pinault family—also known for their ownership of the luxury goods group Kering—was set to deliver an exclusive polar expedition with this charter. The incident brings to light the intricate ties between high-stakes charters, global finance, and regulatory issues that are increasingly impacting the luxury cruise industry.

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