According to another thread (sorry, no linkey) the ‘scientists’ got grants to cover most costs. There was extra space aboard the ship, so paying tourists were brought along to partially offset the costs. The tourists paid about 1/4 million out of a total 1.5 million cost for the expedition. That part of this fiasco actually makes sense.
1.5 million to take water samples? Some newspaper needs to take a long hard look at this...