VIPs

What I neglected to mention is that we had VIPs on board the Polar Star. Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli and his beautiful Swedish "assistant" were on board. He seems best known for leopard skin and dressing the Spice Girls for thieir 2007 "comeback" tour. The story goes that he flew to Tierra Del Fuego in his private jet to join a cruise but didn't like the people so chose our ship instead. Apart from being agog at why someone with a private plane would come on what is definitely not a five star cruise, although it was a five star expedition, the whole ship was alive with gossip for a while, egged on by the fact that no- one had Internet access except via emailing family and getting them to look him up and then send back a report. Roberto and friend also had reserved seats at meals so it became a game as to who would sit with them until it became apparent that they actually welcomed the company and were very friendly and hospitable. He had numerous bottles of his own wine which he dispensed liberally. They also smoked electronic "cigarettes" as it was a no smoking boat. His special concession was that he had his own zodiac at his disposal whenever we went ashore. It must have stretched resources occasionally but we were never discommoded. The other cause of much speculation was where they slept. As we and another couple we befriended had the best two cabins, the only real suites aboard, we were all fascinated. We never did find out although there was speculation about crew being turfed out to accommodate them.