Monument Creek

Back in March, we received an email from Quark outlining their COVID-19 precautions to embark Ultramarine. Those prerequisites for embarking the ship remain in place nearly three months later.

The requirements are fairly stringent ... especially considering that Canada has loosened its requirements considerably. We need to have proof of vaccination with some small print around getting a booster. Plus we need to get a PCR test ... not once, but twice in the span of three days.

I understand why Quark has these requirements. After all, we will be off in the High Arctic. Medical services won't be readily available in those waters.

We have no problems complying.

We are vaxxed and boosted ... and scheduled to get our second boosters mid-July.

The embarkation PCR will be done by Quark's medical team when we join our group at the pre-expedition hotel on 1 August. Thus, we needeed to only figure out the PCR test required to be taken within three days prior to joining the group.

29 July ... our travel day to Toronto ... the earliest date on which we can do the first PCR test. Time to research options.

We were hoping to test at our local lab and then continue onto DEN for our flight to Toronto. With the current travel woes, however, the schedule was going to be a tad too tight. Scratch that off the list.

Air Canada has a PCR home kit. Unfortunately, it requires coordinating with a courier to get the sample to a lab in Toronto. Scratch that off the list.

DEN has a testing clinic. Alas, regular PCR test results take 3-5 days ... ridiculous. The Rapid PCR test costs $250pp ... ridiculous ... especially since less expensive options are available. Scratch that off the list.

So what did we decide to do? Fly to Toronto and visit a SwitchHealth Clinic for their PCR test ... results same day or the next day ... CAD$158 (less expensive when converted to USD). The clinic at Union Station is within 15-minute walking distance to the condo ... convenient.

Our appointments are scheduled for 9a on 30 July. The ASMO account we need to receive our results is already set up online. Now, we just need to show up to get our "nasal cavities" stirred.

Ahhh! The trials and tribulations of travel during COVID-19 times.Read more