Terminal J Miami, can you wait inside?

[airhose]

First time with Oceania!  We will be doing a side to side, so we'll be arriving around 11 to the terminal.  Our check-in time will be a couple of hours later (when stateroom is ready, from what I've read).  Can we wait inside, out of the sun and potential rain?

[oskidunker]

Who knows

[Snaefell3]

Welcome to O!

 

"Terminal 'J'" means Miami, and while Oceania doesn't enforce boarding times in other ports (San Pedro), the Port of Miami runs the Terminals and is notorious for not letting folks in until boarding time.  So... figure "no".

 

The other thing to know is that Oceania ships do not always dock at Terminal 'J' -- Vista on the 28th is scheduled to dock at Terminal 'B', then return on Mar 16th to Terminal 'E', and then 'J' on Mar 27th.  All subject to winds, etc.

 

https://wwwx.miamidade.gov/Apps/Seaport/dailydock/SSRSReportDock.aspx

[tunaman2011]

Greetings

 

Yes there is seating inside Terminal J. You choose your check-in time when you complete the on-line check-in which opens 21 days before sailing.  Boarding usually begins around 11 AM with suites first to be called. Staterooms are ready later in the afternoon and will be announced on a deck by deck basis. You can have lunch, explore the ship, have a drink or four until the rooms are ready you just have to keep your carry-on with you.

 

Good Sailing

Tom

[Snaefell3]

4 minutes ago, tunaman2011 said:

deck by deck basis

Newbie here, but I saw

• Top suites escorted to staterooms even at 11am boarding

• Penthouses called around 12:30

• Concierge around 1:30

• "All cabins" around 2:30

 

We enjoyed Surf & Turf sandwiches (lobster and fillet 😋) poolside while waiting.

[MEFIowa]

2 hours ago, airhose said:

First time with Oceania!  We will be doing a side to side, so we'll be arriving around 11 to the terminal.  Our check-in time will be a couple of hours later (when stateroom is ready, from what I've read).  Can we wait inside, out of the sun and potential rain?

We did Terminal J for Riviera (12/2021, A4 cabin) and Sirena (11/2022, B2 cabin). Yes, there is some waiting area inside. Not a lot. Pretty much once you go in you go up to the lines.

 

BUT...haven't found O being too strict on your boarding time. Even when O was doing the COVID testing in the big tent next to J people just showed up. O is pretty poor at enforcing its own rules and policies. It doesn't ever want to tick anyone off.

 

The biggest issue for your time in Terminal J is mainly WHAT CABIN LEVEL are you in?

 

The G-Bs, the majority of cruisers, have ONE LONG LINE. The As get their own separate line. And separate lines for PH and also the Suites. They'll show you the lines. And you can't miss the huge SNAKE for the G-B line! 

 

You only worry about your cabin being ready once you've gone thru the lines and boarded the ship.

[proton-excitement]

So when I boarded from Terminal J in Miami (Vista, Dec 2023), the time selected during check-in was not checked, or enforced, by anyone. They let everyone into the building and then did check-in by cabin type. I hope they do enforce that now, since it was very disorganized without any sort of staggered entry.

Edited February 26 by proton-excitement

[babysteps]

Agree with other posters, most likely you'll be able to enter terminal J at Miami and board the ship without waiting for your specific boarding time. There may well be a line at 11am, much less likely as you move later in the day.

 

In (the somewhat unlikely) case that terminal J doesn't let you in , you could still check your bags with the porters and either explore Miami or hang out in the parking garage at J (no rain, no sun, decent cell service lol).

[Snaefell3]

18 minutes ago, MEFIowa said:

O is pretty poor at enforcing its own rules and policies.

I phrase it as "O keeps rule-enforcement in it's back pocket to corral problem pax".

[ORV]

One thing that was touched on is that the time the room is ready and the time you can board are two different things. Read Tunamans post again. 

[MEFIowa]

Obviously, one has to keep in mind 3 different times:

 

1. Arrival at your Terminal: Here you will wait!

 

2. Going onboard the ship: Right after you've cleared the Terminal check in.

 

3. Accessing your cabin room: As you hear on the intercom the rooms cleared.

[1985rz1]

5 hours ago, airhose said:

First time with Oceania!  We will be doing a side to side, so we'll be arriving around 11 to the terminal.  Our check-in time will be a couple of hours later (when stateroom is ready, from what I've read).  Can we wait inside, out of the sun and potential rain?

Check-in time and when the stateroom is ready are not the same.  You can check-in then go onboard and have lunch, or read a good book, until the your stateroom is ready.

[Snaefell3]

8 hours ago, MEFIowa said:

1. Arrival at your Terminal: Here you will wait!

Apparently *if* Oceania is using Terminal 'J', not so much.  Only if your ship is docking on the north side of Dodge Island (Terminals 'A'- 'G').

 

...and, yes, sometimes your ship will be on the north side -- occasionally scheduled there, but sometimes rerouted there at the last minute due to winds.

[Hlitner]

I get it, that some folks think of O as a "Premium" cruise line.  Then again, when we boarded the Sky Princess (Dec) with over 3000 passengers, we were onboard and enjoying a drink by 11:30.  No hassles, no boarding by room category (we were just in a tiny suite), etc.  That "mass market" line does not believe in keeping their customers waiting until 2:30.  It has been the same on HAL, Celebrity, RCI, Carnvial. Seabourn, MSC, etc.  So folks are telling me this "Premium Line" makes folks wait until 2:30?  Color me confused.  I have cruised on 17 different lines (dozens of ships) from many ports (including the POM) and no other line as ever kept us waiting until 2:30 or even 1:30.    Where am I going wrong?

 

Hank

[Snaefell3]

42 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

Color me confused.

Perhaps you are.

 

• The "boarding by category" is O's version of "priority check-in".  O is different only in that it runs 4 levels of line priority.  The highest priority line is for the "Top Suites" and the Diamond loyalty level.

 

• Like on Princess, you choose a boarding time online.  Last cruise, boarding began at 11:00am with folks in all four boarding categories, and even the priority-less folks were boarded soon enough to be poolside, ordering a Lobster & Fillet sandwich by 11:30.

 

• Where the categories do make a difference on embarkation day is how soon the cabins are open, so folks do have to lug their carry-on for different lengths of time.  But if you have swimsuit in your carry-on, there are public changing rooms and you can even have a swim before your cabin opens.

[Hlitner]

7 hours ago, Snaefell3 said:

Perhaps you are.

 

• The "boarding by category" is O's version of "priority check-in".  O is different only in that it runs 4 levels of line priority.  The highest priority line is for the "Top Suites" and the Diamond loyalty level.

 

• Like on Princess, you choose a boarding time online.  Last cruise, boarding began at 11:00am with folks in all four boarding categories, and even the priority-less folks were boarded soon enough to be poolside, ordering a Lobster & Fillet sandwich by 11:30.

 

• Where the categories do make a difference on embarkation day is how soon the cabins are open, so folks do have to lug their carry-on for different lengths of time.  But if you have swimsuit in your carry-on, there are public changing rooms and you can even have a swim before your cabin opens.

Thanks for that info :).  With other cruise lines that have boarding times, we have yet to be on any cruise where it was enforced.  But waiting to get into one's cabin/suite is pretty routine across the industry although both HAL and Seabourn usually do have the cabins available upon boarding.  A lobster & filet sandwich (with a glass of nice while wine) will do quite nicely to take away the sting of not being able to access one's cabin.

 

Hank

[Snaefell3]

1 hour ago, Hlitner said:

With other cruise lines that have boarding times, we have yet to be on any cruise where it was enforced.

Can't say I have noticed O ever enforcing, either, but like Princess they do have you click on a time.  Port of Miami itself, though?  Yeah, "Let's see your boarding pass!" (But that seems to be mostly over on the north side of Dodge Island).

 

I've recently posted --somewhere-- "O keeps enforcement of their rules in their back pocket to corral problem pax."  Know of any other line that allows 6 bottles of alcohol for cabin consumption, and doesn't blink at a whole case?

Edited February 27 by Snaefell3

[EJL2023]

43 minutes ago, Snaefell3 said:

Can't say I have noticed O ever enforcing, either, but like Princess they do have you click on a time.  Port of Miami itself, though?  Yeah, "Let's see your boarding pass!" (But that seems to be mostly over on the north side of Dodge Island).

 

I've recently posted --somewhere-- "O keeps enforcement of their rules in their back pocket to corral problem pax."  Know of any other line that allows 6 bottles of alcohol for cabin consumption, and doesn't blink at a whole case?

Terminal J just a month ago required the Boarding Pass prior to allowing you to go to the second floor for check in. 

[Snaefell3]

2 hours ago, EJL2023 said:

Terminal J just a month ago required the Boarding Pass prior to allowing you to go to the second floor for check in. 

🙂 That beats checking at the door into the 1st floor like on the north side of Dodge Island.

[airhose]

Thank you for the replies.  It seems that we will be able to wait inside, until the B to G's are called for check-in!  And then we can have lunch and a glass of wine or 2 while we wait for our cabin.  Sounds good to me!

[Snaefell3]

22 minutes ago, airhose said:

Thank you for the replies.  It seems that we will be able to wait inside, until the B to G's are called for check-in!  And then we can have lunch and a glass of wine or 2 while we wait for our cabin.  Sounds good to me!

One last worry:  Are you sure your Oceania ship will be docking at Terminal 'J'?  Vista, for example, is scheduled elsewhere on several Miami visits this March.

Edited February 27 by Snaefell3

[airhose]

Not sure at all!  Will have to wait and see.

[Snaefell3]

4 minutes ago, airhose said:

Not sure at all!  Will have to wait and see.

Plug in your boarding date

 

https://wwwx.miamidade.gov/Apps/Seaport/dailydock/SSRSReportDock.aspx

[ORV]

36 minutes ago, airhose said:

Not sure at all!  Will have to wait and see.

 

31 minutes ago, Snaefell3 said:

Plug in your boarding date

 

https://wwwx.miamidade.gov/Apps/Seaport/dailydock/SSRSReportDock.aspx

Or even closer to your sail date just check your final documents. 

 

Don't forget that at 21 days before your cruise you have the online check-in, this is where you select your time to check in at the Terminal. This is also when you get the boarding pass. 

[Snaefell3]

2 minutes ago, ORV said:

Or even closer to your sail date just check your final documents. 

Uhh...  The Final Documents only quote where your ship is then currently scheduled to dock. 

 

Sometimes they change to the north side of Dodge Island, even just a few hours before actual docking.  Much better to keep an eye on that website.