How early can we arrive at Pt. Everglades?

[edgee]

We are disembarking an Oceania ship in Miami and embarking Ascent at Pt. Everglades same day. If we disembark as late as possible in Miami and taxi to Pt. Everglades we figure we will arrive about 10:15...too early to board. Will we be allowed to drop our luggage and wait inside the terminal or will it be too early and will we have to stand outside with our luggage until porters will accept our luggage and we are allowed in? Alternative is to taxi to a hotel near the port and wait in the hotel lobby until boarding time and take another taxi to the port. Any advice appreciated.

[Jim_Iain]

Usually they will begin accepting luggage as soon as the last of the departing passengers no longer need porter service.     If not at 10:15 I would think you will not have a long wait.  

[the penguins]

3 hours ago, edgee said:

We are disembarking an Oceania ship in Miami and embarking Ascent at Pt. Everglades same day. If we disembark as late as possible in Miami and taxi to Pt. Everglades we figure we will arrive about 10:15...too early to board. Will we be allowed to drop our luggage and wait inside the terminal or will it be too early and will we have to stand outside with our luggage until porters will accept our luggage and we are allowed in? Alternative is to taxi to a hotel near the port and wait in the hotel lobby until boarding time and take another taxi to the port. Any advice appreciated.

What time have you chosen/booked for check-in on Ascent? This will give you a good indication of the time.

[alexandria]

8 hours ago, edgee said:

We are disembarking an Oceania ship in Miami and embarking Ascent at Pt. Everglades same day. If we disembark as late as possible in Miami and taxi to Pt. Everglades we figure we will arrive about 10:15...too early to board. Will we be allowed to drop our luggage and wait inside the terminal or will it be too early and will we have to stand outside with our luggage until porters will accept our luggage and we are allowed in? Alternative is to taxi to a hotel near the port and wait in the hotel lobby until boarding time and take another taxi to the port. Any advice appreciated.

You might also consider the Brightline train and book Premium tickets (about $32 each).  The Premium ticket includes an Uber ride from the Miami cruise terminal to the Brightline station in Miami, lounge access at the Miami station with complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, snacks and light sandwiches, one checked bag per ticket (you can also carry on luggage if you prefer), train travel from Miami to Ft. Lauderdale in the premium car, and an Uber ride from the Ft. Lauderdale station to the cruise terminal (as long as it is within five miles of the Brightline station...I show it to be about 4.5 miles away).  So it would probably cost $64 for two persons.  Just book the train ticket for the arrival time closest to your Ascent boarding time and wait in comfort in the Miamia Brightline lounge until the train departs!

 

We did it on a recent cruise out of Miami (stayed in West Palm the night before) and we found it to be a great option to get to the ship from our West Palm hotel.

 

https://www.gobrightline.com/

[hcat]

1 hour ago, alexandria said:

You might also consider the Brightline train and book Premium tickets (about $32 each).  The Premium ticket includes an Uber ride from the Miami cruise terminal to the Brightline station in Miami, lounge access at the Miami station with complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, snacks and light sandwiches, one checked bag per ticket (you can also carry on luggage if you prefer), train travel from Miami to Ft. Lauderdale in the premium car, and an Uber ride from the Ft. Lauderdale station to the cruise terminal (as long as it is within five miles of the Brightline station...I show it to be about 4.5 miles away).  So it would probably cost $64 for two persons.  Just book the train ticket for the arrival time closest to your Ascent boarding time and wait in comfort in the Miamia Brightline lounge until the train departs!

 

We did it on a recent cruise out of Miami (stayed in West Palm the night before) and we found it to be a great option to get to the ship from our West Palm hotel.

 

https://www.gobrightline.com/

 Above option  sounds like a nice idea but seems like too many steps   esp with luggage and carryons.

 

If OP arrives  as planned..luggage check in should be fine.  But getting into the Terminal that early could be an issue.  Depends on your arrival time slot. We got 11:30 which was the second available arrival  time slot.  

 

OP has 2 great cruises planned!

[Snow cat]

In early December 2023, we got off one cruise ship (not Celebrity) and got on the Reflection.  We arrived at Term 29 at about 9:30 a.m.; we were not the first in line - about 10 people ahead of us. (We had a scheduled arrival time of 11:30 a.m.) Obviously we really did not want to be this early, but there weren't many options (all passengers were advised of heavy traffic outside terminal and to allow extra time to arrive so we didn't want to take the chance of going elsewhere for a while).  

We were allowed in the terminal just before 10 a.m., and found seats.  After about 15 minutes the security lines opened up, and we were then processed by Celebrity check-in.  A further wait until about 11 a.m. when we were allowed on the ship. Hope this helps. ps: your experience may vary 🙂