We entered Canada on September 20th, required to use the bothersome ArriveCAN app for border admittance. We went through the trouble of ordering expensive Covid testing kits as dictated by the Canadian government and taking video monitored at-home tests within three days of arriving. We were scared to death that these tests would come back negative and our trip plans would be interrupted. Thoughts of being quarantined in Vancouver as our cruise ship sailed away without us or worse yet being stuck in the engine room isolated from other passengers were major concerns. War had already destroyed any plans to enter Russia and Covid concerns by Japanese officials prevented us from going Tokyo. Instead, we were in Canada for one day while the only other territories that we ended up visiting were U.S. properties, Alaska and Hawaii – no testing or special apps required. 

Also, to my horror, I was randomly selected for another mandatory Covid test at the airport, but I had no phone service to receive the directive. It wasn’t until we were at the Vancouver Sheraton and hooked into their wi-fi system that the message arrived. I called the number certain that they wouldn’t expect me to return to the airport for testing, especially after having my negative results from the day before available. We were leaving Canada the next morning so I then avoided the numerous text messages, requiring test results within 24-hours, worried that they might stop me as I boarded the ship.  We also unexpectedly went a few hundred yards back into Canada as part of a vintage train trip. I had visions of being Wanted by the Mounted Police and pulled from the train. 

Of course, none of this ever happened. In fact, no one even checked our Covid results as we boarded or left Canada. I was still worried that a letter was waiting for me at home about the potential $5,000 fine and that I would be hassled by the Canadian government for years to come. Maybe even banned from future visits! Instead, we were at dinner last night on the cruise ship, not even two weeks later, and our companions informed us that all Covid testing in Canada had been stopped as of October 1st, just after I faced this ordeal. I guess I’m now off the hook and grateful that I didn’t spend the time and money to follow their threatening directions. Oh, Canada what a farce!