Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 14; Flight Crew Total 482; Flight Crew Type 482
Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Troubleshooting
Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Incursion Ramp
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Airport; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Procedure
After landing at night in ZZZ we taxied as instructed by Ground to a surface designated point. When we arrived; there was an outbound jet taxiing on the south line and another air carrier under tow on the north line. We advised ZZZ Ground of the conflict and they then instructed us to just take the south line after the outbound jet. The First Officer advised me that there was not a ramp frequency when there actually was. We thought we had been cleared in by Ground but by the time I taxied in I felt like something wasn't right due to the congestion on the ramp. I asked again ' Are you sure there isn't a ramp?'.  He then found the frequency on the 10-7 after we had entered the ramp area. After parking at gate; I made contact with ramp and relayed our confusion. Contributing factors include; unfamiliar operations at ZZZ. First time operating there in over a year plus first time at the new terminal. New First officer fresh off OE and only my Xth flight segment in a year due to pandemic reductions.
Air carrier Captain reported a ramp incursion resulting in a conflict and cited lack of flying as a contributing factor.