integrityluxury yachting in the galápagos islands

3Left: Magnificent Frigatebird, Genovesa. Above clockwise from upper right: Giant tortoise, Santa Cruz; Sally-lightfoot crab, Urbina Bay; marine iguana feeding underwater; Galápagos dove, Española

only the few plants and animals that can survive long, waterless journeys or

that can fly will reach volcanic specks like

the arid Galápagos Islands, 600 miles

west of mainland Ecuador. Tortoises,

lizards, seabirds, and a handful of land

birds were favored; most terrestrial

mammals had no chance. Without land

predators, the surviving species lost — to

delight of visitors — any fear of land

mammals, including humans.

The Galápagos, home to endemic species including Giant Tortoises, doves and marine iguanas

4

the integrity, a 141 ft. luxury yacht, carries 16 passengers in uncompro-

mising comfort and safety through the

Galápagos Islands.

From the swimming platform aft to the

extended bow for whale and dolphin

watching, every inch of the Integrity was

designed to enhance your Galápagos

experience.

All staterooms have private en suite

facilities including shower, lavatory and

vanity, and individual climate controls.

The Salon and Sun Deck lounges provide

the perfect place for you to relax and

gather for refreshments from the bars.

Soaking in the Sun Deck spa while cruis-

ing past volcanic shores is a unique treat.

The Integrity carries a fleet of sea kayaks,

perfect for exploring the Islands’ shore-

lines, inlets, bays and quiet coves.

Luxurious and intimate, the Integrity

is an ideal choice for your Galápagos

adventure.

integrity –a perfect choice for galápagos

Top: Integrity stern, James Bay, Santiago. Bottom: Penguin colony at Sombrero Chino with Integrity in the back-ground. Right: Integrity and real rainbow in front of frigate and booby colony, Darwin Bay, Genovesa.

7

integrity – that’s what the galápagos resident and owner Rolf Sievers is all

about. Immigrating from Germany with

his father and mother at age 20, he

helped his family scratch out a homestead

in the rough volcanic land long before

such luxuries as electricity, running water

or medical services came to Galápagos.

Rolf’s first paid job ($80 per month) was

tending the seismograph at the Charles

Darwin Station in 1964. Soon Rolf be-

came manager of the Station, a position

he held for a decade before resigning

in 1978 to start small yacht tours of the

Galápagos Islands.

Today, more than 40 years later, he and

his wife reside in the Santa Cruz Highlands.

His two sons, Dirk and Christian, both

university graduates, live in the village

of Puerto Ayora and together, the family

owns, operates, and maintains the yachts

Integrity and Reina Silvia. The German

penchant for perfection is much in evi-

dence — all systems work all of the time.

Rolf Sievers and family–perfectionists in the art of Galápagos cruising

Left: MV Integrity. Clockwise from upper left: the Sievers’ original house in Galápagos; Rolf, Christian, Rosaura and Dirk Sievers; Rolf as director of the Charles Darwin Station; an early photo of Christian, Rosaura and Dirk.

if you have Integrity, nothing else matters; if you don’t have Integrity, nothing else matters.

8

cruising with a few like-minded travelers on a luxurious yacht among

the Galápagos Islands is an exclusive,

private, and personal experience. You

can savor the joys of the natural world

without dozens of others around you.

With such a small group, going ashore is

quick, easy, and uncomplicated. Impor-

tantly, you are close to your guide—you

can hear the descriptions of the ecosys-

tems, flora, fauna, geology, and ocean-

ography, and can have your questions

heard and answered.

A yacht can visit more of the smaller,

intimate sites than the large ships can.

Flexible daily activity schedules accom-

the small yacht Galápagos experience

modate serendipitous moments like the

sighting of whales, orcas, Mola mola,

penguins, and schools of dolphins. Shore

visits are adjustable to reflect tempera-

ture concerns, group energy, and interest

levels.

Clockwise from upper right: No waiting—all guests can ride in just two pangas; Small group arriving onto empty shores, Genovesa. Right: Your small group aglow in the magic light of a Bartolomé sunset.

If you seek a rich, personal connection

with nature, don’t want to interact with

48-96 others, then planning your Galá-

pagos experience aboard the 16-passen-

ger yacht Integrity may just be the right

choice for you.

11

there is arguably no place where wild

creatures are as fearless of humans as

they are in the Galápagos Islands. For

the traveler, this means an experience

and relationship with wildlife like no

where else on earth. Whether it’s watch-

ing a curious Galápagos Hawk from just

a few feet away or going nose-to-nose

with a playful sea lion pup, a visit to

the Galápagos guarantees a myriad of

profound wildlife interactions.

This is what makes the Galápagos such

an incredible destination and one that

will touch your life forever.

Incomparable Closeness

Left: Swimming with sea turtles, Isabela. Clockwise from upper right: Dolphins playing with the panga; Curious Galápagos Hawk, Bartolomé; Sea lion and guests, Fernandina; Taking marine iguana portraits, Fernandina

12

even though you are kept busy with snorkeling, kayaking and shore visits,

there is ample space and plenty of time

to be alone. Let the spa soothe your

cares, read in a chaise lounge, sip your

favorite beverage at the bar, write in your

trip journal, download your photos, or

just disappear into your air-conditioned

stateroom for a restorative nap. If you’ve

forgotten how to relax, look to the sea

lions for lessons.

Rest, relaxation and fun— important goals of your trip

Clockwise from upper right: Relaxing on the Sun Deck; Catching a quiet moment together; Kayaking to bob-bies, penguins and pelicans, Isabela; Sharing laughs. Right: A very special sea lion encounter, Española.

15

when you travel on the integrity, you are assured of spending time with

exceptional teachers selected for their

knowledge, experience and especially

for their ability to help you learn about

the incomparable flora, fauna, and rich

cultural history.

Our guides share scientific and histori-

cal knowledge blended with insights and

humorous tidbits gained through years

of interpreting the natural and cultural

history of these remote, special places.

Articulate and personable, the guides

aboard the Integrity are fun too!

“I can’t say enough about Richard Polatty.

A consummate guide the likes of which

I’ve never seen before. Deeply knowledge-

able about everything Galápagos but

never overbearing. A wonderfully outgoing

personality helps a lot too. He obviously

loves what he’s doing.” — Peter Kibbee,

Washington, DC

“What amazed me most about the guides

is that they were always willing and excited

to teach and answer questions. They

are truly gifted and giving.” — Kathleen

Kaufman, Santa Monica, CA

Exceptional teachers

Left: Guide Richard Polatty giving a lecture on plate tectonics. Top: Guide Jan Post pointing out rays in the shal-lows, Floreana. Bottom: Guide Tanya Helmig explaining tortoise migration patterns, Isabela.

16

the integrity team will take good care

of you. Comfort, service, peace and

quiet, spacious cabins with all ameni-

ties — this is the Integrity’s recipe for

a complete and carefree getaway.

Your needs are anticipated and quietly

provided, whether at anchor or while

cruising smoothly from island to island.

The Integrity team earned the coveted

“Galápagos Quality Gold Seal” in 2012

for their dedication to safety, service,

environmental practices, and above all,

to the Galápagos Islands.

care, service and attention to detail—that’s integrity

“The service was incredible. Every need

was met, and then some! We couldn’t

believe how nice it was to be greeted with

a cold wet towel and a cold drink each

time we returned from a jaunt......just those

little touches were so appreciated and so

welcome! “ — Cathy Enright and Walton

Reeves, Atlanta GA

“Crew were excellent-very nice and

obviously a great team- really helpful with

fitting me out with snorkeling equipment, a

walking stick, etc.” — Elaine Cook, High

Wycombe, Bucks, UK

Clockwise from upper left: Crew serenading guests; Friendly, courteous service is the norm on Integrity; Helping hands always present, Galápagos Gold. Right: “Dry Landing” at

Iconic view across Bartolomé to Sullivan Bay on Santiago—your reward for walking to the top of Bartolomé

20

the integrity owners, like our guests, enjoy dining well. They know that food

is an important part of any vacation so

their talented chefs work magic in the

galley creating new taste sensations and

surprising twists on old favorites.

Menus are varied and healthy. Special

diets are easily accommodated and chil-

dren’s favorites are always available.

You dine at intimate tables of six and

enjoy barbecues of local specialties on

the sun deck as you revel in the sunset

with the obligatory sun downers.

Breakfast is buffet style with cereals,

juices, fresh fruit, toast, muffins, hot

items and eggs cooked to order. Fresh

brewed coffee, a selection of teas, milk

and cocoa are served. Lunch and dinner

are served in several, elegantly plated

courses and often start with a soup,

followed by salads and a main course

of fish, chicken, beef, seafood and a

vegetarian option. And there’s always

dessert, coffee and tea.

vacation and fine food— they go hand in hand

Clockwise from top: lunch served between shore visits; fresh ceviche; chef plating starter; Poached pear desert; Grilling on the Sun Deck. Right: Dining area on Integrity—you won’t miss a view.

23

the spacious salon with comfortable

wrap-around seating is bathed in natu-

ral light, perfect for reading a selection

from the yacht’s library or listening to

lectures on Galápagos natural history,

geology and the evening briefing.

A wide-screen media center is avail-

able for viewing your personal photog-

raphy or naturalist’s presentations.

The Main Bar offers a wide variety of

beers and wines from throughout South

America. You may also enjoy a hand

crafted cocktail created by one of the

skilled bartenders.

In the Main Deck entry, snacks, refresh-

ments and hand towels are ready for

you when you return from shore visits

and snorkeling.

Left: Salon and dining view. Above, clockwise from upper right: Salon bar service; Salon and diners; Post-shore-visit service, snacks and drinks in the Main Deck entry; Salon with view to library, coffee bar and rear entry

interior spaces: salon, lounge, bar and entry

24

on the partially-covered sun deck

are a full service bar, cafe tables and

chairs, cushioned lounges, and spa. It

is the prime place to watch the Galápa-

gos roll by while underway, catch up on

reading, nap, have a drink at sunset,

and stargaze at night.

Forward of the pilot house is the popular

“Rolf’s Roost,” a circular lounge where

guests enjoy sun downers and hors

d’oeuvres while watching Frigatebirds

soar in the golden evening light. It’s a

great location for whale-watching, too.

At the bow is a viewing platform where

guests can look directly down onto

dolphins surfing the bow wave below or

bioluminescence at night.

Above, clockwise from upper right: Sipping drinks and soaking up the sun at the spa; Rolf’s Roost; Reading on the Sun Deck; Sun Deck cafe tables, bar and guest frigate. Right: Scanning for whales from the spa deck.

outdoor spaces: sun deck and rolf’s roost

27

your stay on the integrity will be in

the most comfortable and luxurious state-

rooms of any yacht in the Islands. Simple

and tasteful, the décor features hardwood

hand harvested by Rolf Sievers.

The king-bedded, 350 ft2 Owner’s

Suite spans the Main Deck from port to

starboard. With picture windows on both

sides, you will experience unobstructed

views of the Islands. This luxurious

suite has ample seating in addition to

a writing desk with chair. Enjoy plenty

of storage, individual climate controls,

large-screen entertainment center, satel-

lite phone and spacious bathroom.

Left: Owner’s Suite king bed and lounge seating. Above, clockwise from upper right: Writing desk on starboard side; View to port side of suite, showing wrap-around lounge seating; Native wood cabinets and entrance.

spacious stateroomsowner’s suite

28

single & queen staterooms

the integrity offers you one queen-bedded, 150 ft2 stateroom with all the

amenities of our Standard Staterooms:

picture windows, full bath, table and

chairs, entertainment center, and mini-

bar.

The Integrity also offers the option of a

120 ft2 Single Stateroom. This comfort-

able stateroom has one twin bed with

private facilities, large picture windows,

a writing table, entertainment center, and

a mini bar.

.

Above, clockwise from upper right: Writing desk in Single Stateroom; Honeymoon touch in Queen Stateroom; Single Stateroom entrance and storage; Single Stateroom twin bed; Stateroom bath. Right: Queen Stateroom

31

standard staterooms

the integrity offers six 150 ft2

Standard Staterooms. These can be

configured with one king bed or two twin

beds. It’s a delight to wake to views of

the Galápagos through the large picture

windows.

Each Standard Stateroom offers a table

with chairs, plenty of storage, a stocked

mini bar, individual climate controls, a

satellite phone and entertainment center.

The en suite bathroom facilities have a full

sized shower, lavatory, toilet and storage

cabinet.

Left: Standard Stateroom configured with twin beds. Above, clockwise from upper right: Standard Stateroom configured with a king bed; Table and seating; Seating and bath door; Entry, storage and mini-bar.

32 33

integrity, the only galápagos yacht equipped with stabilizers, was built in the

US and completely refitted and remod-

eled for Galápagos cruising in 2005 by

the Sievers themselves. Regular upgrades

keep the Integrity in top shape.

Two electronically controlled, vibration

isolated Detroit/MTU 4-stroke diesel

engines, provide smooth, economical and

green cruising. Two generators provide

sufficient electrical power to easily support

yacht systems

Excellence inside and out

type motor-yacht

length & beam 141 ft x 24 ft

speed 12 knots

stabilizers yes

air conditioning individually controlled

guests 16

crew + naturalist 11

CD-DVD en suite

cell/satellite phone en suite

kayaks 6-8

SpaBar

Zodiak

ZodiakCovered Deck

Sun Deck

Grill

Sun Deck

DiningSalon

Bar

Library Guide

Captain

Rolf’s

RoostB

ridg

e

Galley

Salon Deck

1 - Suite

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

2

Crew

Reception

Swim Platform

Main Deck

the air conditioning, walk-in freezer and

refrigerator, extensive electronic systems,

the 5000-gallon-per-day water mak-

ers, the on-board waste-water treatment

plant, and keep the spa hot for you.

The Integrity is the most environmentally

conscious yacht in Galápagos, earning

the Galápagos Quality Gold Seal for its

practices.

Clockwise from upper right: Captain at the helm—all Integrity captains have years of experience piloting in Galápagos; one of the two Detroit/MTU diesel engines; Integrity underway. Right: Integrity deck plans

34

Yacht itineraries

cruising itineraries for the integrity (and for all vessels) are set by the Galá-

pagos National Park Service. No yacht

may visit any visitor site more than once

in two weeks’ time in order to reduce

visitor impact on “over loved” sites. The

Sievers family has selected two of the

most compelling itineraries possible for

the Integrity.

By starting cruises in Puerto Ayora, the

Integrity can visit a greater number of the

most rewarding visitor sites on outly-

ing islands, an option not available on

almost any other yacht.

The Western Route features the younger,

volcanically active Islands of Isabela and

Fernandina, whereas the Eastern Route

features the older Islands of Española,

San Cristóbal and Genovesa. On many

islands you will visit more than one site,

and there are many opportunities around

these islands to snorkel and kayak.

western route: Santa Cruz (several sites before board-

ing Integrity), Floreana (4 sites), Isabela

(5 sites), Fernandina (1 site), Santiago (3

sites), Santa Cruz north shore (2 sites),

North Seymour (1 site), Baltra (1 site)

eastern route: Santa Cruz (several sites before board-

ing), Española (3 sites), San Cristóbal

(3 sites), Santa Fé (1 site), South Plaza

(1 site), Genovesa (2 sites), Santiago (1

site), Bartolomé (2 sites), Rábida (1 site),

Sombrero Chino (1 site), Baltra (1 site)

Clockwise from top: Integrity at Kicker Rock; Red-footed Booby on Genovesa; Curious Galápagos Hawk, no telephoto lens needed; Snorkelers giving their “two-thumbs-up” review. Right: Integrity routes map.

fernandina

isabela

floreana

española

san cristóbal

santa fé

plazas

genovesa

marchena

pinta

santa cruz

baltra

santiago

rábida

pinzón

Integrity Routes Keywestern route eastern route

north seymour

bartolomé

Cover: Integrity at Punta Vicente Roca, Isabela. Here: Integrity anchored between North Plazas and South Plazas. © 2012. Photos: Weston Walker-Knoblich, Christian Sievers, Bill Roberson, Mallori Abbott, Marika Roberson, Nicole Churchill, Laura Wilson, Phillip Yip, Wes Walker