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FAQ

In remote regions such as the Antarctic and Arctic, our expeditions operate in areas where sophisticated medical facilities are limited or nonexistent. Although the likelihood of a medical emergency is minimal, it is essential for our shipboard doctors to be prepared with thorough medical information for all guests.

As a member of both AECO and IAATO, we must adhere to specific safety regulations while we operate within polar regions, and this includes ensuring that all travelers to these regions are medically fit to partake in an expedition. To simplify this review and approval process, we have partnered with VIKAND for their extensive expertise in expedition related medical services.

VIKAND's online medical screening process is streamlined and built to comply with all applicable laws and standards. Each guest will receive real-time status updates once their medical forms have been submitted for review, allowing for a transparent and efficient medical review process.

All data collected on VIKAND's medical questionnaires and consultations are stored in full compliance with HIPAA and GDPR. Additionally, the screening process itself adheres to the laws and standards set by AECO and IAATO. To date, VIKAND successfully completed over 40,000 medical screenings with no security breaches, ensuring both the security and privacy of guest information.

The VIKAND and NGE-LEX health privacy policies are posted in your MyLEX portal. You will be asked to acknowledge receipt of both.

An information page will be available in the MyLEX portal as soon as you book your expedition, along with a sample medical form for you to review. Medical form submissions open 270 days (nine months) prior to the start of your expedition.

To login to the VIKAND website, you must provide the following details exactly as written on your passport and in your reservation: your first name, your surname, and your date of birth.

If the system does not match, you may try using your first name, your surname and your passport number if you have already provided this information to your reservation agent. The system will not allow you to proceed if your information does not match exactly. Before your first attempt to log in, please ensure that these details are in your reservation via the MyLEX portal.

To complete the form, you will be required to provide details about your medical history and current state of health.

The decision is personal. We welcome submissions from your physician.

Using Personal Practitioner: If you prefer to use your own doctor, you will need complete part of the medical form online. A PDF document will be sent to you, which you must print out for your physician to complete. Once completed, you will need to upload that document to the VIKAND site.

Using a VIKAND Practitioner: If you seek expediency and simplicity, we recommend using the virtual visit feature and having a VIKAND doctor walk through your medical history with you. The entire form will be completed on your behalf during the visit.

Of course! Please email medforms@expeditions.com for a copy of any of the following:

  1. Registering on the VIKAND Medical Portal
  2. Making an Appointment with a VIKAND Doctor
  3. Submit Your Medical Intake Form to VIKAND
  4. Uploading Personal Practitioner Form to VIKAND Site
  5. Submit the Adapted Medical Intake Form

The VIKAND system is entirely digital. We recommend finding someone close to you who can assist with completing the form online. You can also book a Virtual Video Visit with a VIKAND doctor who will complete the form on your behalf while discussing your medical history.

Once the initial intake form is submitted online, the status will be updated in the MyLEX portal within 1-2 business days.

If you choose to use your personal practitioner, please upload the completed doctor form (received only after you complete the medical intake form on your own behalf) to the VIKAND site without delay.

Alternatively, you can book a virtual appointment with a VIKAND doctor.

Once both your submission and the doctor's submissions are received, the review takes approximately 7-10 business days. For last-minute bookings, we recommend a virtual appointment for the quickest approval.

There is no cost to you if you choose to work with your own personal practitioner to complete the medical form submission process.

If you choose to use a VIKAND practitioner for your medical evaluation and submission, you will incur a cost.

Vikand Virtual Visit Fee
There is a USD $180.00 fee for any guest using VIKAND's pre-trip virtual appointment service.

  • This fee is payable directly to VIKAND for those services at the time of booking the virtual appointment.
  • This fee cannot be covered or reimbursed by health insurance.
  • Guests using their own physician for the screen are not subject to this fee.

Yes, so long as your new travel date is within one calendar year of the previous expedition.

Please login to the VIKAND website, accessible via MyLEX. You should see your status as "Pre-Approved - Pending Submission." You will be prompted, and will need to complete, an Adapted Guest Health Form in order to be considered for full approval.

No, you may not. For privacy reasons, VIKAND cannot share another company's protected information, even if that information belongs to a common individual.

Once you have completed the first part of the screening process (the online form), your status will be displayed in the MyLEX portal. You will also receive a series of emails from VIKAND at each stage of the process.

MyLEX Guest Communications Portal
You will be able to track the status of your medical screening through the MyLEX portal. One of these status messages will appear.

The speed with which the status messages progress depends solely on the speed with which you or your doctor are able to answer any follow-up queries from the VIKAND medical team. Such queries may include requests for additional information such as test results or other diagnostic and treatment details.

StatusMessage
No Submission ReceivedPlease log in to the VIKAND website and begin the process.
Pending Doctor SubmissionYour form has been received. Please print the doctor's PDF form that you received by email and ask your doctor to complete it. Once your doctor has completed their portion of the form, upload a scan to the VIKAND website.
Under ReviewVIKAND has received both Guest and Doctor submissions. No further action is required.
IncompleteThere is incomplete or missing information on your Doctor's form. Please check your email for an information request
ApprovedYou have been approved for the voyage. No further action is required.

Email Updates
Throughout the process, you will receive a series of emails from VIKAND about the screening process.

Emails will come from VIKAND Guest Medical Screening at no-reply@vikand.com or Cal.com hello@cal.com if using VIKAND's virtual appointment service. Please always check your Junk or Spam folders for these emails.

Sample email subjects are listed below.

SenderEmail SubjectAction to Take
no-reply@vikand.com“Email Verification Required”Click the link in the email to complete your registration for the VIKAND system.
no-reply@vikand.com“Thank you for your Submission: ACTION REQUIRED”The VIKAND system confirms your completion of the medical intake form. Print out the attached PDF and bring it to your personal physician to complete their portion.
no-reply@vikand.com“Thank you for your Doctor’s Form Submission”Once you upload the form completed by your personal physician, you will receive this confirmation email.
hello@cal.com“Confirmed: National Geographic–Lindblad Expeditions with VIKAND Medical on [DATE]”Once you book an appointment with a VIKAND doctor, you will receive this confirmation email.
no-reply@vikand.com“Your VIKAND Doctor consultation is complete”After your consultation with a VIKAND doctor, you will receive a confirmation email. A full copy of the medical form will be attached.
no-reply@vikand.com“Medical Screening Update: Incomplete Submission”Unfortunately, some of the information provided by your personal physician was incomplete. Follow the instructions in the email to provide the missing information.
no-reply@vikand.com“Guest Screening Submission: Approved”You are approved for travel on the expedition.

If you did not receive your email verification email, please wait about 30 minutes. If it still has not arrived, check your SPAM folder. If it is not in your SPAM folder, try to log in again with a different email address. If a different email address does not work, send your Full Name, Lindblad Booking Number, and Voyage date to screening.lindblad@vikand.com with copy to medforms@expeditions.com.

If you did not receive the Cal.com email with your appointment information, please wait about 30 minutes. If it still has not arrived, check your SPAM folder. If it is not in your SPAM folder, make another appointment. If you continue to not receive a confirmation email, send your Full Name, Lindblad Booking Number, Voyage Departure Date, and your Appointment Date/Time to screening.lindblad@vikand.com with copy to medforms@expeditions.com.

The VIKAND doctor will not contact you via telephone. Appointments must be joined via the meeting room link provided in your confirmation email. Double-check the email for the link and your appointment time.

Refer to the confirmation email from Cal.com. Use the link in your email to reschedule or cancel appointments. Fees will apply if cancelled or re-booked less than 24 hours prior to your original appointment.

Please refer to the cancellation terms and conditions in the confirmation email provided. Refunds for canceled appointments are processed within 7-10 business days.

Unfortunately, no. Each person must book a separate appointment.

If you've already submitted your form and need to make corrections, wait for an email from the review team. They will outline what's missing or incorrect and how to update it.

If you elect to have an online appointment with a VIKAND doctor, that doctor will upload your form. There will be no further action required unless specifically requested by a member of the VIKAND team.

If you elect to use your own practitioner, and you upload the completed PDF after your personal appointment, if your status in MyLEX does not change to "Under Review" within two business days, please email screening.lindblad@vikand.com and copy to medforms@expeditions.com. In this email, please provide your full name, Lindblad booking number, and voyage date.

If your query is urgent or time-sensitive, please forward your email to medforms@expeditions.com so that we may escalate the issue with VIKAND. In the subject line, please be sure to include your full name, date of birth, voyage date, and Lindblad booking number.

If you require additional assistance, please e-mail:

screening.lindblad@vikand.com