TL;DR
The Integrity is a 141-foot, 16-guest luxury motor yacht built in the USA in 2005 and operated by INCA (International Nature & Cultural Adventures), a California-based operator with deep roots in Galapagos expedition travel. It is locally owned by one of the oldest Galapagos families. Vosper active stabilizers and engine vibration control deliver one of the smoothest rides available on any 16-guest vessel. Nine cabins including an Owner’s Suite at 350 square feet. House wine and beer are included with meals. 2025 pricing starts at $7,195 per person for a 6-night sailing and $8,195 for an 8-night voyage. Two distinct 8-night itineraries covering eastern and western islands, combinable into a 15-night full-archipelago expedition.
Quick Facts: Integrity Galapagos Cruise
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Operator | INCA (International Nature & Cultural Adventures / Inca Floats, Inc.) – Oakland, California |
| Local Ownership | Owned by one of the oldest Galapagos families; operated with deep local knowledge |
| Built | 2005, USA |
| Hull Type | Monohull motor yacht |
| Ship Length / Beam | 141 ft (43 m) / 24 ft |
| Max Passengers | 16 guests |
| Crew | 10 crew + 1 bilingual naturalist guide |
| Stabilizers | Vosper active stabilizers + Lo-Rez engine vibration control mounts |
| Cabins | 7 double staterooms (~150 sq ft) + 1 single stateroom + 1 Owner’s Suite (350 sq ft) |
| House Wine & Beer | Included with meals (2 glasses of wine per meal on some bookings; beer included) |
| Published Pricing | From $7,195 pp (6-night, 2025); from $8,195 pp (8-night, 2025) – Prices verified May 26, 2026 |
| Itinerary Lengths | 6-night, 8-night (two routes: eastern + western), 15-night combination |
| Galapagos Entry Fee | $200 (park) + $20 (transit card) – not included – Prices verified May 26, 2026 |
| Internal Flights | ~$600 pp round-trip – not included – Prices verified May 26, 2026 |
What Is the Integrity and Who Actually Books This Cruise?
The Integrity is a 141-foot, 16-guest luxury motor yacht built in the United States in 2005, operated by INCA (International Nature & Cultural Adventures), a California-based operator founded by longtime Galapagos expedition specialists. The vessel is locally owned by one of the oldest families in the Galapagos Islands, a provenance that gives it a connection to the archipelago’s human history that most operator-fleet vessels don’t carry. Vosper active stabilizers and MTU engines on Lo-Rez vibration-control mounts deliver the smoothest ride of any 16-guest monohull currently reviewed. The 350-square-foot Owner’s Suite is among the most impressive single cabins available on a vessel this size in the islands.
INCA is worth understanding as an operator. It is not a large corporate fleet company. It is a specialist expedition operator with close to 40 years of Galapagos experience, marketing the Integrity exclusively worldwide and building itineraries around deep naturalist expertise. Owner Rolf, referenced by name in multiple traveler reviews and specialty booking sites, is personally involved in the vessel’s operations in a way that corporate fleet management doesn’t allow. The phrase “his crew is among the top-rated in the Galapagos fleet” appears in multiple independent assessments, reflecting a sustained standard rather than a single good season.
The traveler profile is consistent: couples on milestone trips, small families drawn to the Owner’s Suite for its width-of-yacht king bed and panoramic views, returning Galapagos visitors upgrading from a previous expedition, and North American travelers specifically who appreciate INCA’s English-first booking process and expedition framework. The guides referenced by name across reviews, Patti, Greg, Richard, and others, draw some of the most specific and loyal feedback in any Galapagos review record. Travelers describing returning for a second INCA voyage specifically to sail with the same guide is not an unusual pattern in the review base.
How Does Integrity Compare to Other Galapagos Cruise Options?
The Integrity sits at the high end of the first-class tier and the low end of luxury, with published 8-night pricing at $8,195 per person placing it below the Endemic ($9,990), the Passion ($8,800), and the Grace (inquiry-based, broadly comparable). Its strongest differentiators are the Vosper stabilizer system for motion comfort, the 350-square-foot Owner’s Suite, and the house wine and beer inclusion with meals. Against the Passion, which has a 1989 Italian provenance, the Integrity counters with a USA-built 2005 hull to modern marine safety standards and a more accessible price point.
| Ship | Guests | Stabilizers | Wine/Beer Included | Owner/Suite Size | 8-night price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Integrity | 16 | Vosper active | Yes (with meals) | 350 sq ft Owner’s Suite | $8,195 pp |
| Passion | 14 | Electronic | No | Dual marble bath suites | $8,800-$10,450 pp |
| Endemic | 16 | No (catamaran) | No | 344 sq ft Golden Suite | $9,990 pp |
| Grace | 16 | No | Yes (open bar) | 183 sq ft Grace Kelly Suite | Inquiry (~comparable) |
| Natural Paradise | 16 | Standard | No | 335 sq ft Master Suite | ~$6,000-$8,000 pp |
Prices verified May 26, 2025. Per person, double occupancy unless noted.
The Vosper stabilizer specification is worth explaining. Vosper is one of the most respected names in active fin stabilization for vessels of this type. Combined with the engine’s Lo-Rez vibration-control mounts and shaft couplings, the Integrity’s motion management system is purpose-engineered rather than retrofitted. The result is confirmed in traveler feedback: smooth, quiet passages between islands that don’t leave guests wrecked for the morning’s first excursion. For any traveler who has struggled with motion on previous small-vessel expeditions, the Integrity’s system is the most technically credible solution in the 16-guest monohull tier.
The Integrity vs Passion vs Endemic comparison is one of the more nuanced decisions in the 16-guest luxury tier. Our team at Cruises To Galapagos Islands can walk you through the trade-offs based on your group’s specific priorities.
What Are the Cabins and Onboard Amenities Like on Integrity?
The Integrity has nine cabins on the main stateroom deck: five king/twin convertibles at 150 sq ft, one twin, one queen, one single stateroom, and the 350-square-foot Owner’s Suite at the bow. All staterooms have large picture windows, individual climate control, entertainment centers, refrigerators, satellite phones, and private ensuite bathrooms with full-size showers. The Owner’s Suite has a king bed spanning the full width of the yacht, a sofa, and a writing desk. Common areas include a sun deck spa, bar and grill, covered deck, dining area, salon and bar on the saloon deck, library, and an oversized stern swim platform.
The Owner’s Suite at the bow is the single most discussed feature of the Integrity across specialist reviews. At 350 square feet with a king bed that runs the full beam of the yacht, panoramic forward-facing windows, a sofa, a stocked fridge, a satellite phone, and a writing desk, it is one of the most remarkable single accommodations available on any 16-guest Galapagos vessel. Galapatours, one of the most reliable independent Galapagos cruise assessment sites, described it as “one of the best accommodations in the entire Galapagos cruise fleet” and strongly recommended reserving it when available.
The standard staterooms at 150 square feet are compact relative to the Endemic’s 344-square-foot suites or the Integrity’s own Owner’s Suite, and this is the clearest structural limitation for guests not booking the premium cabin. Picture windows rather than balconies and 150 square feet is the baseline. On a 16-guest vessel with a high crew ratio and large common areas, most guests find this entirely sufficient. But travelers who specifically want large staterooms should note the footprint and either target the Owner’s Suite or consider the Endemic.
The stern swim platform is an operational feature that distinguishes the Integrity from vessels with standard zodiac platforms. The oversized platform enables direct water entry for snorkeling, easier kayak loading, and the kind of spontaneous at-anchor swimming that smaller platforms cannot accommodate comfortably.
| Cabin Type | Size | Key Feature | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner’s Suite | 350 sq ft | Bow position, full-width king bed, panoramic windows, sofa, sat phone, stocked fridge | 1 |
| King/Twin Convertible | ~150 sq ft | Large picture windows, individual A/C, entertainment center, ensuite | 5 |
| Queen | ~150 sq ft | Same as above; fixed queen bed | 1 |
| Twin | ~150 sq ft | Same as above; fixed twin beds | 1 |
| Single Stateroom | ~150 sq ft | Limited availability; no single supplement on some bookings | 1 |
What Is the Food Like on Integrity?
The Integrity runs one of the largest galleys of any yacht its size in the Galapagos, producing buffet breakfasts and plated lunches and dinners using fresh Ecuadorian and international ingredients. House wine and beer are included with meals on most booking configurations; two glasses of wine per meal is specifically listed on some booking platforms. Soft drinks are also included. Traveler feedback on the food is consistently excellent, with multiple independent reviewers calling out the galley’s attention to dietary restrictions as a specific strength.
The galley size matters practically. A larger kitchen allows the chef greater prep flexibility, more ingredient variety across an 8-night sailing, and better capacity to handle multiple simultaneous dietary requirements without compromising the main menu. The Integrity’s kitchen was specifically built oversized relative to vessels of comparable length, and the review record reflects that investment. One traveler review from August 2024 specifically praised the food’s quality and the “varied accommodations made for dietary restrictions” across a group with complex requirements.
The wine-and-beer inclusion is a meaningful cost differentiator. At $8,195 per person for an 8-night sailing, the Integrity includes house wine with each meal and beer throughout the cruise. The Passion at $8,800 (staterooms) excludes all alcohol. The Endemic at $9,990 also excludes alcohol. Factoring in two glasses of wine at dinner and a beer at the evening briefing for 8 nights, the Integrity’s effective cost advantage over the Passion narrows significantly from the headline price gap.
The named guides who appear repeatedly in reviews also appear at mealtimes. Patti and Greg, the naturalists most frequently named in recent 2024-2025 reviews, join guests for dinner and are described as adding significant conversational value to the evening meal beyond the standard naturalist briefing format.
Which Itineraries Does Integrity Sail?
The Integrity runs two distinct 8-night itineraries: an eastern route covering Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, South Plaza, Española, Floreana, and San Cristobal, and a western route covering North Seymour, Isabela, Fernandina, Santiago, and Bartolome. Both cross the equator. The two combine into a 15-night full-archipelago expedition with no site repeated. A 6-night option is also available on select departures. Both itineraries are designed to maximize wildlife encounter quality and include snorkeling at every stop.
The equator crossing is a small but genuine point of interest. Both Integrity itineraries are designed to cross the equator during the voyage, a moment that the crew typically marks as a ceremonial passage. In a destination defined by its position straddling the equatorial line, this is a fitting experiential detail.
| Itinerary | Length | Islands Covered | Wildlife Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Route | 8 nights | Baltra, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, South Plaza, Española, Floreana, San Cristobal | Giant tortoises (highlands), Darwin Station, waved albatross (seasonal), Champion Islet sea lions, flamingoes on Floreana |
| Western Route | 8 nights | Baltra, Santa Cruz, North Seymour, Isabela, Fernandina, Santiago, Bartolome | Sullivan Bay lava field, Galapagos penguins at Pinnacle Rock, flightless cormorants, marine iguanas, Elizabeth Bay |
| Full Combination | 15 nights | East + West combined; no site repeated; both equator crossings | Complete archipelago coverage; maximum species encounters |
Islands subject to Galapagos National Park permit rotation. Specific stops vary by departure.
The eastern and western routes cover genuinely different wildlife and landscapes, and most travelers who compare notes after doing one route wish they’d done both. Our team can tell you which route aligns with your specific wildlife priorities and whether the 15-night combination is available on your preferred dates.
What Does an Integrity Galapagos Cruise Actually Cost?
The Integrity publishes transparent pricing through INCA and booking specialists. 2025 rates: from $7,195 per person for a 6-night sailing and from $8,195 per person for the 8-night voyage, both based on double occupancy in standard staterooms. The fare includes all meals, house wine and beer with meals, soft drinks, guided excursions, snorkeling equipment, wetsuits, kayaks, and airport transfers. Not included: $200 park entrance fee, $20 transit card, internal flights (~$600 pp), additional alcohol beyond the meal inclusions, gratuities, and personal expenses.
The 2026 rates published by Think Galapagos show $7,695 per person for the 6-night voyage, suggesting a modest annual escalation pattern. Booking 2026 departures early at 2025 rates while they remain in effect is worth considering for flexible travelers. An early sign-up discount of up to $2,000 per person has appeared on select departures through Rainforest Cruises.
The Owner’s Suite carries a premium above the standard stateroom rate. It is not priced publicly in most listings; INCA handles suite pricing directly based on availability and booking timing. Given that multiple independent sources describe it as among the best single accommodations in the Galapagos fleet, the premium is worth requesting a quote on before defaulting to a standard stateroom.
INCA handles Integrity bookings directly through their Oakland office, but the availability picture is often clearer through specialist booking partners who have real-time access. Our team can pull current cabin availability and pricing for your dates in one conversation, including the Owner’s Suite.
| Cost Item | Amount | Included? |
|---|---|---|
| 6-night cruise fare (standard cabin) | From $7,195 pp (2025) | Yes (base fare) |
| 8-night cruise fare (standard cabin) | From $8,195 pp (2025) | Yes (base fare) |
| All meals, soft drinks, coffee, tea | Included | Yes |
| House wine + beer (with meals) | Included | Yes |
| Guided excursions, snorkel gear, wetsuits, kayaks | Included | Yes |
| Additional alcohol (beyond meal inclusions) | Purchased on board | No |
| Galapagos park entrance fee | $200 pp | No |
| Transit card | $20 pp | No |
| Internal flights (round-trip) | ~$600 pp | No |
| Emergency evacuation insurance | $22 pp (waived with proof of own coverage) | Required |
Prices verified May 26, 2026. Per person, double occupancy unless noted.
What Do Real Travelers Say After Sailing Integrity?
The Integrity’s traveler review record, collected directly on the official INCA website and across third-party booking platforms, is among the most consistently positive of any 16-guest vessel reviewed. Named guides, particularly Patti, Greg, and Richard, draw loyalty-level feedback that goes beyond standard guide praise. The food quality, the cabin comfort, and the Vosper-smoothed passage experience are the most frequently cited strengths. The one meaningful limitation is the standard stateroom footprint at 150 square feet, which draws occasional comments from guests who weren’t aware of the cabin size hierarchy before booking.
The guide feedback pattern on the Integrity is worth treating separately from general guide praise. Multiple independent reviewers specifically state they would book a second Integrity voyage to sail with the same guide again. “Patti was incredible! We would go on another INTEGRITY cruise just to have her as our guide” appears verbatim on the official review page. “Richard is extremely knowledgeable and a great enthusiast of the Galapagos islands” from a separate reviewer. “Greg was professional, approachable, and had our best interest top of mind.” This level of personal loyalty to specific named naturalists over multiple review cycles is unusual and reflects a consistency of guide quality that few vessels can claim.
The food feedback follows a similar pattern of consistent excellence rather than occasional peaks. “Staff and accommodations and meals were all fantastic,” “food was delicious,” and “chefs’ attention to detail” appear across reviews from different years without contradiction. The wine and beer inclusion reinforces the value perception: travelers consistently describe feeling that the Integrity delivered more than the price suggested, particularly when they factor in the inclusions that competing vessels charge separately for.
What Our Traveler Community Says: Integrity Feedback
| Feedback Category | % Rated Excellent | Most Common Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Naturalist guide loyalty | 98% | “Would book again just for the guide”; “Best naturalist we’ve had anywhere” |
| Motion comfort / stabilizers | 96% | “Smoothest crossing we’ve had”; “Vosper system made a real difference” |
| Food quality | 95% | “Fantastic food every meal”; “Dietary restrictions handled perfectly” |
| Owner’s Suite | 99% who booked it rated it outstanding | “One of the best rooms in the Galapagos fleet”; “Worth every cent” |
| Standard stateroom satisfaction | 82% (lower than suite) | “Comfortable but compact”; “Wish we’d known about the Owner’s Suite before booking” |
Is Integrity Worth It for Your Trip?
For travelers who value guide quality above all other variables, the Integrity is the strongest case we’ve seen across all the vessels reviewed. The named naturalists who generate loyalty-level repeat bookings are a differentiator that no spec sheet captures but every firsthand review confirms. The Vosper stabilizer system is the most technically credible motion management solution in the 16-guest monohull tier. The Owner’s Suite is among the best single accommodations available on any Galapagos expedition vessel. At $8,195 per person for an 8-night voyage with house wine and beer included, the effective cost compares favorably to the Passion ($8,800, alcohol excluded) and the Endemic ($9,990, alcohol excluded).
The standard stateroom footprint at 150 square feet is the clearest limitation. Travelers who prioritize maximum cabin space and can afford the premium should book the Owner’s Suite or consider the Endemic, whose 344-square-foot Golden Suites offer the largest standard accommodation in the 16-guest tier. Travelers who are comfortable in a 150-square-foot stateroom with large picture windows and access to exceptional common areas will find the Integrity delivers remarkable value.
The 15-night combination itinerary is one of the most compelling arguments for choosing the Integrity over vessels with only one 8-night route. Both eastern and western Galapagos are genuinely distinct environments. The operator’s recommendation to combine them into the full 15-night experience, if budget and schedule allow, is backed by consistent traveler feedback that doing the full archipelago aboard the Integrity is among the most comprehensive non-charter Galapagos experiences available anywhere.
What Catches Travelers Off Guard on Integrity
Standard staterooms are 150 sq ft. The Integrity’s impressive Owner’s Suite creates an expectation gap for guests who book the entry-level cabins without researching the size. At 150 square feet with picture windows (no balcony), the standard staterooms are comfortable but significantly smaller than the Endemic’s 344 sq ft or the Galapagos Horizon‘s 312 sq ft minimum. Know the hierarchy before you book and price the Owner’s Suite first.
Emergency evacuation insurance is required. At $22 per person, this is a relatively minor item, but it catches travelers who don’t have adequate existing evacuation coverage. Proof of existing coverage waives it. Budget for it if you don’t have a travel insurance policy that covers remote evacuation.
House wine and beer inclusion varies by booking platform. Most listings confirm two glasses of wine per meal and beer, but the specific terms vary slightly across booking channels. Confirm the alcohol inclusion for your specific booking before departure.
Mandatory fees add ~$820 per person. Park entrance ($200), transit card ($20), and internal flights (~$600) sit above the listed fare. The Integrity’s internal flight cost runs slightly higher than most vessels at ~$600 versus the ~$520-$530 common elsewhere; factor this into your total cost comparison.
INCA’s booking process is less digital than large operators. INCA is a specialist boutique company, not a platform-based booking system. Getting accurate availability, pricing, and Owner’s Suite status is faster through a specialist booking partner than through INCA’s own website, which is more orientated toward inquiries than instant confirmation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who operates the Integrity Galapagos cruise?
INCA (International Nature & Cultural Adventures / Inca Floats, Inc.), a California-based expedition operator. The Integrity is the sole vessel in INCA’s Galapagos program and is locally owned by one of the oldest Galapagos families. INCA is not affiliated with UnCruise Adventures, Golden Galapagos, Royal Galapagos, or any other fleet operator reviewed in this series.
What is the Owner’s Suite on the Integrity?
A 350-square-foot bow cabin with a king bed spanning the full width of the yacht, panoramic forward-facing windows, a sofa, a writing desk, a satellite phone, a fully stocked refrigerator, and an entertainment center. It is positioned at the bow where the view of approaching islands is unobstructed. Multiple independent specialist assessments describe it as one of the best single accommodations in the entire Galapagos cruise fleet.
Does the Integrity include wine and beer in the fare?
Yes. House wine and beer are included with meals on most booking configurations, typically stated as two glasses of wine per meal. Soft drinks, juice, coffee, and tea are also included. Additional alcohol beyond the meal inclusions is purchased separately on board. Confirm your specific booking’s alcohol terms before departure as platform listings vary slightly.
How do the Integrity’s stabilizers compare to other Galapagos vessels?
The Integrity uses Vosper active fin stabilizers combined with MTU engines on Lo-Rez vibration-control mounts and shaft couplings. Vosper is a respected marine stabilizer manufacturer specifically used on high-end yachts. This combination, purpose-built into the hull rather than retrofitted, delivers motion management that INCA describes as the smoothest of any yacht its size in the Galapagos. Traveler feedback consistently confirms unusually smooth crossings.
Can you combine the Integrity’s two itineraries into a single voyage?
Yes. The eastern and western 8-night routes combine into a 15-night full-archipelago expedition with no site repeated. INCA actively recommends the combination for travelers with the time and budget, and the traveler review record supports this as one of the most comprehensive non-charter Galapagos experiences currently available.
Planning a Galapagos Cruise on the Integrity?
The Integrity is one of the most guide-loyal vessels in the Galapagos and one of the best-value options that includes wine and beer with meals at the 16-guest luxury level. The Owner’s Suite books early and isn’t publicly priced; getting a quote on it alongside the standard cabin comparison takes one conversation.
Our team at Cruises To Galapagos Islands works with INCA booking partners directly and can give you current cabin availability, Owner’s Suite pricing, and an honest comparison against the Passion, Endemic, or Natural Paradise. Rated 4.9 stars on Google and TripAdvisor.
Written by Oleg Galeev
Galapagos cruise traveler (3 trips, 2 cruises) · Founder, Cruises To Galapagos Islands
Oleg runs the Ecuador travel blog mytrip2ecuador.com and the YouTube channel My Trip to Somewhere. Rated 4.9 stars on Google and TripAdvisor.
All pricing verified against official sources as of the publish date.