New to Oceania - Questions

[Cruisepm]

We are new to Oceania and will be boarding the Vista soon in Miami.  

We have been assigned a boarding time.  Does Oceania strictly adhere to the boarding times or do they accept passengers as they arrive?

Is it possible to get additional dining reservations once you are onboard?  If so, is it better to go to the reservation desk or go directly to the restaurant?

Where is the dining reservation desk located on desk 5?

Thanks for your help. 

[Snaefell3]

You'll find most of your answers in other currently active threads.

 

As for boarding times, O isn't particularly strict about boarding times, but the Port of Miami *IS*.

 

If you're driving to Miami for the 16th, be aware that Vista does not plan to return to the same terminal that it embarks from -- O usually runs a shuttle on disembarkation day over to where you'll have parked your car.

[mauibabes]

If you want to get an “Availability “ reservation on Embarkation” Day, go straight to the Reservation Desk on Deck 5 by the Boutiques when you board.  Depending on your boarding time and possibly Stateroom level, you should be able to get a reservation at one of the 4 Specialty restaurants. I am assuming you have made your 3 or 4 reservations already.  Besides Embarkation Day extra reservations, they probably won’t give you any additional reservations until a number of days into the cruise or until other guests have an opportunity to get their first round of reservations. 
Enjoy Vista, she is very special. 
Mauibabes

[MEFIowa]

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.

We did Terminal J for Riviera (12/2021, A4 cabin) and Sirena (11/2022, B2 cabin). Pretty much once you go in you go up to the lines. Haven't found O being too strict on your check-in/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.

[Iamthesea]

14 hours ago, Cruisepm said:

We are new to Oceania and will be boarding the Vista soon in Miami.   

 

Which cruise are you on? We are taking the March 9th cruise on the Vista.