Frequently Asked Questions: Health and Safety Protocols

All vessels owned by National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions (National Geographic Endurance, National Geographic Resolution, National Geographic Explorer, National Geographic Orion, National Geographic Venture, National Geographic Quest, National Geographic Sea Bird, National Geographic Sea Lion, National Geographic Endeavour II, National Geographic Islander II, and National Geographic Gemini), with the exception of National Geographic Delfina, carry a health professional.

In addition, our chartered vessels Sea Cloud II, Delfin II, and Delfin III carry a health professional, but Charidew II, Aqua Blu, Connect, Evolve, Lord of the Glens, Oberoi Philae, Sun Goddess, and The Jahan do not. However, these vessels are typically no more than two hours from healthcare providers on land.

Some equipment is specific to the vessel. National Geographic Resolution, National Geographic Endurance, National Geographic Explorer, and National Geographic Orion have ventilators and ultrasounds. All ships have defibrillators and other emergency equipment. We can provide some acute interventional services and basic services such as providing antibiotics or suturing simple lacerations. Any complex medical needs will occur at shoreside facilities.

In the event of a medical condition that cannot be treated within the limited medical facilities on board the ship, it may become necessary for a patient to be evaluated at or airlifted to a nearby medical facility.

Guests should check with their insurance carrier to determine whether their insurance covers medevac. Where applicable, they should also inquire whether their insurance covers medical care occurring outside of the United States. If their current health insurance policy does not cover these services, it is recommended to purchase additional medical and evacuation coverage, as the fees for these services can be expensive and are typically due at the time of service.

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions vessels are not equipped to manage guests on either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Guests requiring these services cannot sail with us.

Guests are permitted to bring oxygen concentrators on board, but should be advised of the following guidelines:

• Guests must make independent delivery arrangements with a third party for the rental, delivery, and return of oxygen concentrators or other medical equipment.

• Due to safety concerns and storage limitations, National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions does not allow carriage or use of liquid oxygen or oxygen cylinders.

• Guests are responsible for notifying their air carrier of any oxygen requirements.

• While some of our ships do have an oxygen concentrator on board, they are used for emergencies and can be neither rented nor loaned to guests who have chronic supplemental oxygen requirements.

• Guests may bring their own CPAP machines.

Guests requiring the use of a wheelchair or other mobility aids during the voyages are responsible for providing their own device prior to boarding the ship. National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions may have a limited supply of wheelchairs onboard for emergency use only.

All mobility or medical equipment brought on board must be capable of being carried safely and must be declared 30 days before setting sail. We may impose limits on the number of pieces and value of equipment, and we may decline to carry any equipment where it is not safe to do so or where we have not been notified in time to enable a risk assessment to be carried out.

The crew is not obligated to lift guests or push wheelchairs, or to provide personal care such as assistance with eating, medication, personal hygiene, or using the restroom. We welcome guests who require such additional assistance, but we ask that they be accompanied by a companion to provide this support. In the event of an emergency, our crew will provide additional evacuation assistance to guests with disabilities and guests with reduced mobility.

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions cannot guarantee that guests with disabilities or guests with reduced mobility will be able to participate in operations that require the use of rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) or other small boats. Please note that National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions offers experiences that involve cruising and landing at places with little or no infrastructure, including jetties, floating pontoons, gangways and slipways, as well as nature landings.

• Motorized wheelchairs or other motorized assistive devices are not permitted on board.

• Wheelchairs can be no wider than 24”.

• Guests requiring wheelchairs must be able to move independently around the ship or travel with someone willing and able to propel them as needed.

Guests who have entered their 24th week of pregnancy as of their embarkation date, or who will enter their 24th week of pregnancy during the trip, will be refused passage due to safety concerns.

Neither a doctor’s medical statement nor a waiver of liability will be accepted. In addition, Lindblad Expeditions cannot be held responsible or liable for any complications relating to pregnancy at any stage.

This policy is in place for the safety of pregnant guests and their fetuses. While the onboard physicians can handle many emergency situations, the ships are not equipped to provide post-birth care or care for newborns.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a travel alert for travelers to specific countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Bahamas, along with specific areas in Florida, due to the Zika virus, a mosquito-related illness. While the most common symptoms are usually mild and include fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes, pregnant women should pay special attention to the travel alert and take necessary precaution to avoid mosquito bites. Additional information can be found under the Travelers Health section of the CDC website at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices and http://www.cdc.gov/zika.

The minimum age requirement for children to sail varies depending on the voyage itinerary.

• For most itineraries, the minimum age to sail is 6 months at time of embarkation.

• For the following itineraries, the minimum age is 4 years:

  • All Antarctica, Antarctica Direct, Antarctica / Falklands / South Georgia and Patagonia / Antarctica voyages

  • All Northwest Passage voyages

  • All Greenland, Iceland and Iceland / Greenland voyages

  • All Svalbard voyages and Norway / Svalbard voyages

  • All voyages visiting the Baffin Islands

• For Charaidew II, the minimum age is 18 years.

• For Delfin II, Delfin III and Oberoi Philae, the minimum age is 7 years.

• For The Jahan, the minimum age is 5 years.

• For Connect, Evolve and Sea Cloud II, the minimum age is 1 year.

All children must travel with a parent or legal guardian.

Your health and well-being are most important to us. There are many conditions which may prove challenging for travelers.

Guests with the following issues may not be appropriate for this type of travel:

Guests with cognitive limitations, including:

• Severe disorientation and agitation in unfamiliar surroundings

• Delusional, paranoid or aggressive behavior

• Severe incontinence

• Wandering behavior

Even those with less severe impairment should often not travel alone.

Guests on cancer therapy or after a transplant:

Because our voyages are often to very remote areas with limited sophisticated medical care, it is suggested that travelers on chemotherapy, or who are severely immune compromised, discuss expedition travel with their personal physician. There may be occasions where the Lindblad Expeditions medical team may be able to assist. The onboard Lindblad Expeditions medical team is not able to administer chemotherapy drugs. Decisions concerning travel are made on a case-by-case basis. Please notify Lindblad if this applies to you, at the time of initial booking.

Embarkation testing is not required; however, we highly recommend that all guests take a pre-departure COVID-19 test within five days of the start of your expedition. We also continue to recommend that you follow all CDC travel guidelines including masking and social distancing prior to joining the group.

If you tested positive for COVID-19 within 5 days of embarkation, you will be permitted to embark the vessel. If symptomatic, you may be required to isolate for a brief period and/or wear a face covering in accordance with CDC guidance.

The CDC provides guidance for travel, including frequent handwashing, avoiding touching your face, keeping ample distance from others where possible, covering coughs and sneezes, and wearing a mask. More information can be found on the CDC website.

Please Note: While many airlines and international destinations have relaxed mask requirements, we highly recommend you continue to mask and closely adhere to COVID mitigation health and safety guidelines in the days leading up to your voyage and enroute to the vessel (including on the plane) to reduce your potential exposure.

If you choose to explore independently before your expedition, we recommend that you follow all CDC travel guidelines including masking and social distancing prior to joining the group and exercise extra caution leading up to your voyage.

Due to the rapidly changing landscape of COVID and governmental protocols, we strongly suggest purchasing refundable air regardless of which flight you choose to take to your destination. We strongly advise all guests to allow for adequate connections and, where possible, to arrive a day early. Doing so will mitigate the risk of delays, missed connections, lost luggage and, in some cases, missing your trip altogether.

Face coverings are recommended, but not required, while onboard.

While we try to have Paxlovid aboard our vessels, we cannot guarantee its availability, especially outside of the United States. If we provide Paxlovid to you onboard, the cost to you can be thousands of dollars and may not be covered by your health insurance. If you are concerned about the drug's availability or price, you should speak with your health care provider about bringing a course with you on your expedition.

If anyone tests positive via rapid antigen test, a second rapid antigen test will be administered for confirmation. If positive, the guest/crew member will be immediately isolated.

You will be isolated in your cabin, in accordance with CDC guidelines. Shipboard crew will deliver food and supplies as necessary. You will not be permitted to leave the isolation cabin until you satisfy CDC guidelines.

Yes, all positive cases are treated similarly regardless of symptoms.

In most cases, the voyage will continue as planned. However, as Lindblad Expeditions visits many remote regions with limited medical care, some landings and activities may be modified at the request of local authorities.

A Lindblad Expeditions representative will work with you to rebook your air.

You are responsible for all shoreside isolation costs. Lindblad Expeditions will assist in securing isolation accommodations, but all payments are to be made directly at the time services are rendered. If you prefer to make your own arrangements, you are welcome to. Consult your insurance provider with any coverage questions.

You are responsible for all air costs and change fees. Consult your insurance provider with any coverage questions.

If your airfare was ticketed by Lindblad Expeditions, Lindblad Expeditions’ Air Department will be able to assist with changing those tickets.