World's large cruise ship promises no lines

It's a truism of the cruise business: The bigger the ship, the more delays there are during boarding. But Royal Caribbean executives say the much-ballyhooed Oasis of the Seas -- by far the largest cruise ship ever built -- will be an exception to the rule.

Speaking during a tour of the soon-to-debut, 5,400-passenger vessel last Thursday at the STX Europe shipyard in Turku, Finland, Royal Caribbean Chairman and CEO Richard Fain said the company is making some major changes to the way it handles the boarding process to ease congestion.

I’ll have to see it in action before I believe it. What I picture are lines, plenty of them!

Google's flight status cell phone tool

I have a cell phone and well basically just use it as phone. I’ll send an occasional text message (TM) but I use my phone as a phone just to make and receive phone calls. Sorry folks there are none of those flashy applications splashed all over the TV screens. The marketing and advertising hype hasn’t convinced this guy that I need a pocket computer. Just the basics please!

But I have discovered a great Google application that’s perfect for air travelers and/or the people tasked to retrieve them at the airport. Google will send a TM to your phone updating the flight status.

Here’s how it works: Simply send your airline code and flight number to Google's text number 466453 (which spells "Google" on phones that still have letters assigned to each number) and it will return your flight status within seconds. It’s almost too simple to use but you’ll get exceedingly fast and accurate flight status information on your phone.

So if you’re picking up a business associate, loved one or just want an update on your air travel plans try this application. I think you will love it!

Happy travels!

What does that vacation really cost?

Many people when they travel think they’ve gotten a great deal on the airfare and hotel but they often forget to factor in the other expenses. Expenses like food, beverages, attractions, entertainment, etc all add up and can really impact your bottom line. Here’s an on-line vacation cost calculator that can help you figure out your true vacation costs.

Let’s take this to the next level by comparing your Myrtle Beach week long vacation with all expenses factored in to a week’s cruise or all-inclusive vacation. I think you’ll discover that these vacations are affordable especially when compared to the “true” costs of your getaway to the beach trip.

Happy travels

Round the World (RTW) airfares

Round the World Airfare (RTW) are programs offered by airlines and travel professionals allowing travelers to circle the globe for much less money than buying a series of one way tickets. Many times an Around the World ticket, especially in Business and First Class may cost less, than a round trip ticket to the more remote regions of the world.

Put together a list of the cities you want to visit on your around the world trip. RTW tickets are really the most economical method of building complex multi-stop airline itineraries. A good starting point is a detailed destination guide which gives details of attractions, cultural norms, tipping guides, hotel discounts, ground transportation options, passport and visa requirements. For this task I like http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ but there are many good guides on-line. Another great research tool is a good seasoned travel agent, someone who has plenty of experience in international air travel planning.

Plan the order of visits in a continuous direction around the world going from east to west or vice versa. By moving in a continuous direction and avoiding any backtracking you can save on your RTW final fare. Most RTW fare calculations are based on a combination of stops and mileage so a practical itinerary works best. As such, for some short legs it may make sense to purchase a separate one-way ticket or alternative transportation such as rail. You normally do not have to arrive and depart from the same city in each area. So for instance, you can fly into London and catch the Chunnel train to Paris to continue your trip. This is called a "surface sector" in technical RTW ticketing language.

Most RTW tickets are for a period of 12 months. Some discounted ones are for shorter periods. Be sure to match the ticket length to your true travel wishes. Sometimes purchasing the 6 month RTW ticket and starting off the trip with a single one-way ticket can provide a savings.

Most RTW tickets are entirely flexible with dates so that you can extend or shorten your stay in each destination as you experience the trip. If this is important to you, confirm that the RTW ticket you are exploring allows these changes.

If you’re a do-it-yourselfer there are plenty of RTW on-line booking tools that can help you get an idea of the types of trips available. Contact me at thetravelprofessor@gmail.com and I’ll share a list of some of my favorite sites. I encourage you to play around with a few of them and explore the possibilities. Once you have some ideas please submit the itinerary on-line or take it your travel agent. Either way around the world travel counselor will help fine tune your trip and make suggestions. They want you to truly enjoy your RTW travel and will take the time to make sure you get the perfect airline ticket and schedule for your needs.

A last word of caution before booking and purchasing your RTW fare is to be sure to check on passport and visa requirements. You don’t want any avoidable paperwork hassles and delays.

Happy 19th Amendment Day!

This is a day for all the ladies to stand up and cheer!

As unbelievable as it is in the land of the free and home of the brave a mere 89 years ago women had no constitutionally guaranteed right to vote in elections. In January of 1918, President Woodrow Wilson announced that he was supporting a new amendment to the US Constitution that would give women the right to vote. The House of Representatives passed the amendment, but it failed in the Senate after a series of delays. The National Woman's Party began a campaign to oust members of Congress who voted against the Amendment - with great success. The following year, both Houses of Congress were overwhelmingly pro-sufferage. On May 21, 1919 the House of Representatives passed the amendment by a vote of 304 to 89 and in June, the Senate passed it by a margin of 56 to 24. After ratification by the States, the Nineteenth Amendment was certified on August 26, 1920.

I guess that means that you gals need to schedule a visit to the National Constitutional Center in Philadelphia PA. Don't forget to check out the other great sites like the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall when you are there.

Niche cruises

Here’s a queston that was emailed from Beth in Portsmouth: “We’re experienced cruise vacationers and are looking for a different cruise experience. Some friends mentioned that we try niche cruising? What is niche cruising?”

I like to define the niche cruise product as a segment of the cruise industry that utilizes smaller and/or unconventional vessels with an emphasis on destinations that the larger cruise lines cannot venture to. With niche cruises you’ll discover a wide world of itinerary possibilities. A few of these are explorations of history, cultures and cuisine on inland rivers, adventures in the Arctic or the Galapagos, off the beaten Caribbean path and ecological itineraries. I’ve seen sailings that tie up to an iceberg and let you off to explore the ice mass on your own. The list of niche sailings and destinations is almost limitless.

Niche cruises can provide more an intimate experiences than the larger mass market cruise lines. Niche cruise lines also place personal enrichment and environmental preservation high on their agendas. For this reason, niche cruise lines are heavily destination focused with unique itineraries and shore excursions.

I believe that you receive different experiences on the various cruise companies. A cruise with 3000 people arriving at St Thomas along with 3 other 3000 passengers’ ships is entirely different than sailing on an 80 passenger ship plying the rivers of Europe or Asia.

I have enjoyed sailing on both mega liners and intimate river vessels. If you feel that you’ve had enough of the mega mass market experience and are looking for a more refinement then a niche cruise is the route to go. You can get more information from the Niche Cruise Marketing Alliance (NCMA) or contact a Certified Niche Cruise Specialist travel agent like myself.

Got travel questions? Email thetravelprofessor@gmail.com.

Happy travels!

Mt. Vesuvius erupts!

It was the day after Vulcanalia, the festival of the Roman god of fire. On August 24th, death rained down on the Roman village of Pompeii from Mount Vesuvius. For several weeks, the wells around the town had begun to go dry. A series of small earth tremors began. Then, on August 24th, the eruption commenced and lasted for almost 19 hours. More than 9 feet of volcanic pumice and ash fell on the town. Best estimates are that between 10,000 and 20,000 people died as a result of the eruption and its aftermath. Pompeii's actual location was forgotten until its accidental rediscovery in the 18th century.

Today Pompeii is a popular day excursion from Roma (Rome).

Labor Day "Historical" Getaway

The early history of Ohio when it was considered frontier country is often overlooked. This Labor Day weekend you can step back 200 years into the past of early Ohio at the 27th Annual Living History Fair being held September 5th & 6th in New Boston Ohio. Located just west of Springfield, Ohio, this nationally recognized event promises Colonial Era fun for the entire family.

It’s already on my calendar so I’ll give you an accounting after the fact. According to the people that I’ve spoken with everything about this event recreates the time period of 1790 - 1810. The music, entertainment, clothing, methods of cooking, foods served, merchandise booths, and equipment used by the artisans are juried (or judged) to assure authenticity to the period.

I’m told that I’ll meet some heroes of the Ohio Country frontier. At various times of the day Daniel Boone, Simon Kenton and General George Rogers Clark will stop to share their stories and experiences. I plan to join the audience and share in the hearty laughter at Cheapside. Next I’ll browse the marketplace, unique shops and visit a recreated Woodlands Indian Village reflecting time period. There will be a chance to relax and refresh in a colonial tavern while listening to music of the colonial era. A Continental Army gun crew will service and fire a full-sized Revolutionary War cannon. At the end of each day I’ll be able to view the energy and excitement of a battle reenactment!

The fair is held in historic George Rogers Clark Park, just west of Springfield on State Route 4. Gates will open at 10 am and close at 6 pm rain or shine. Admission is $8 for adults; $3 for children aged 6-11, and ages 5 and under are admitted free. Admission for military active duty is $5 with ID. Parking is free and plentiful. For further information see their website at www.fairatnewboston.org or call 937-882-9216. Tourism information on the greater Springfield area can be obtained at 800.803.1553 and/or www.visitspringfieldohio.com.

Literature & travel

“Remember what Bilbo used to say: It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” J.R.R. Tolkien

Right out of English literature the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy spurred travel to New Zealand and down under. The outstanding scenery in the films didn’t hurt.

One can discover much about a place or a destination from films and reading but this guy prefers to get his boots, flip flops and/or gym shoes on the ground. Besides there’s no way to smell the roses, taste the local delicacies or savor the native brews via print or electronic media.

More thoughts on rental car insurance

Awhile back I talked about rental car insurance and want I to share some new thoughts with you. When you pick up your car please take the time to thoroughly walk around and inspect both the exterior and interior of the vehicle with the rental agent. Have them identify and list any dents, scratches, imperfections, etc on the rental agreement. If there’re unwilling to do this then have the person that double checks your paperwork before you leave the lot do this. It could save you in the long run.

A strategy is to also photo the car when you pick it up. Be sure that your camera’s date and time stamp are set to coincide with the time of your pictures. This pre-rental evidence is great evidence if the car company wants to say that you are responsible for the damages.

Happy travels!

Salem Witch Trials

On August 19, 1692 one woman and four men were executed by hanging for the crime of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. Witchcraft and the Witch Trial theme are still very popular here plus there are plenty of other great things to see and do!

Boston, Lexington, Concord & Plymouth are just short drives from Salem.

Road trip time!

Lost a credit card when traveling?

Speaking of copies it is also a good idea to copy the front and back of the credit cards that you’ll be using when you travel. Be sure to get a local or international phone number and/email address for your credit card issuing companies. In the event you lose these then you’ll have a way to report the loss.

It is also a good idea to contact the credit card companies and inform them of your travel destinations and authorize that charges can be made in these locations. For security reasons your card may not work when you’re out of normal geography so a little pre planning can prevent a down the road problem. I’ve experienced this problem in the states. An Ohio resident with thousands of dollars of available credit I tried to use my card in Massachusetts and my charges were declined. It took about three hours and four calls to customer service before this situation was straightened out. Another solution is to carry more than one credit card. I have my primary card then one or more backups.

Your choice of the Atlantis Resort will take you to a world beyond extraordinary. Set amidst the lush tropical splendor of Paradise Island, Bahamas, the Atlantis is an exhilarating adventure of thrills and discoveries. With a recent $1 billion expansion the Atlantis provides incredible amenities, diverse accommodations and a vast array of activities and attractions. You can swim and play with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, shop at Marina Village or Crystal Court Shops, visit the Caribbean's largest casino, relax at Mandara Spa, play the challenging 18-hole championship PGA course, explore the 141-acre waterscape, Aquaventure, and dine at over 20 world-class restaurants all in one spectacular location.

If you venture off the property head over to “Hurricane Hole” marina and enjoy a fresh “conch salad’.

Got travel questions? Email thetravelprofessor@gmail.com.

Happy travels.

More on a lost passport

Another precautionary measure is to use the hotel room safe if provided and/or check with the front desk to see if they have a safety deposit box you can use.

Back to the lost passport issue here are some precautions to take. Before you depart make color copies of the inside of your passport-the one with the photo and issuance details. Also make a copy of a secondary government-issued photo ID something like your driver’s license. Write the phone number of the US embassy in the country you’re visiting on the back, and pack the copies in a separate place from the originals so if one gets lost or stolen, you’ll have backup ID.

If you should lose your passport the fix is to call the US embassy right away and report your passport stolen. It may be a few days before you can pick up a new one but by having copies you can expedite the replacement process.

Lost passport issues?

Hey Travel Prof my boyfriend and I are going to the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, Bahamas. He’s a complete disorganized klutz. I’m worried that he’ll lose his passport and our travel documents. Can you make any suggestions or tips on how to handle this situation?

Congrats as you picked a super resort and interesting destination. I love the islands of the Bahamas and always look forward to returning.

I had an ex girlfriend that fits this category. She left a suitcase full of shoes at the airport even after I asked multiple times if she had everything. Yes I made her catch a cab and retrieve the bag herself. I was with a group and couldn't’t shake lose to do it myself.

The next time we traveled I personally inspected all the checked bags receipts. I left the carry to her but did inquire a few times if she had anything. Care to guess why she’s an ex?

To solve this I was responsible for all travel documents including the passport. I‘d give it to her when she needed it then immediately got it back and secured it in my document folder. The document folder I’m currently using hangs on a string around my neck and has pockets for passports, tickets and other documents. When on the road I wear this inside my shirt, sweater, jacket, etc., it may look tacky but it’s a secure place for important documents. Look in the luggage section of department/discount stores or search for one on line.

There's more to follow on this post. Be sure to check back soon.

Happy travels

Travel quote & thought for the day

“I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move.” Robert Louis Stevenson, Scottish essayist, poet and author of fiction and travel books.

This is a great attitude & I wish more people would adopt it.

Happy travels!

Now an Official Cancun Counselor

I just completed parts one and two of the Cancun Tourism Institute (CTI) educational program established by the Cancun Visitors and Convention Bureau. CTI was created on the belief that knowledgeable and motivated “Official Cancun Counselors” can best advise travelers on the wonders of a Cancun vacation.

The CTI program demonstrates how Cancun is much more than a “beach vacation”­ it is a complete vacation experience. This program provided everything that I need to know about how to create a complete, well-planned trip for my clients, whatever their needs or interests.

Part three consists of a personal visit to Cancun and the Yucatan. Even though this is a trip it will not be a vacation. There will be plenty of personal inspection visits to hotels, restaurants, shops, attractions, etc. But on location events like this study program are all parts of travel agents continuing professional education. I can gain a wealth of knowledge from brochures, DVDs, and webinars but experiencing it in person learning really brings it all together.

My 1st visit to Cancun was in the early 80’s when it was just a developing relatively unknown destination. I’ve been back a few times but nothing as in depth as the CTI experience will provide. I’m eagerly looking forward to discovering the progress in this wonderful Caribbean portion of Mexico.

Happy travels!

Tweets & Faces

You can now follow the Travel Professor on Twitter and Facebook The links are http://twitter.com/TheTravelProf & http://www.facebook.com/TheTravelProfessor

Happy travels!

Traditional travel agents rebound

I’ve been saying this for years “Travel agents are not dead. The Internet has only changed the way the travel products are sold. People will still need travel agents help on their trips”.
Now the most recent consumer research on travel seems to support my statement.

Research firm Partnership/Yankelovich reports that 62 percent of consumers who used a travel agent said their agent was “Extremely Influential” or “Very Influential” in their choice of vacation products. This is up from 56 percent in 2008 and 54 percent in 2007. That’s a research fact in an annual study known as the National Leisure Travel Monitor. And this is no fluke -- the study has been going on for decades and three years of research show a steady growth in the influence of agents.

The YPartnership/Yankelovich Travel Monitor is an annual study that tracks trends in the travel industry based on the actual traveling customer. It measures consumer behavior year in and year out, and has been a key part of strategy, product development and marketing meetings for years.

So how do you explain the increase in usage and influence when it comes to traditional travel agents when many over the years have predicted the exact opposite? Could it be the fact that there are overwhelming numbers of options when it comes to taking a trip? Even a simple trip can include, but not be limited to, transportation to and from a destination, transfers, activities, dining, entertainment, cruise ships bookings and hotel reservations.

It’s all there on the Internet, and is literally just a click away, but who wants to deal with all of that? I am not willing to spend the extra hour or so changing my own oil when I can pay someone else to do. How many of you are willing to invest the multiple hours required to properly research a trip or destination?

More and more customers are coming to the same conclusion when it comes to travel. They have come to realize it doesn’t even really cost them money to work with an agent. In fact, they typically save money!

There are plenty of reasons why consumers use travel agents when it comes to booking travel -- far too many to cover in this short column. And again, those who do use agents say their agent is extremely or very influential in their overall choice of travel products 62 percent of the time. Depending on the product, it is higher or lower, with influence on hotels and resorts topping out at 66 percent.

Marry these percentages with the fact that these same consumers across the United States booked in excess of $100 billion in travel with a travel agent and what do you have?

I see a bright future for existing agents along with the need to train new travel agents. If you're interested in a travel agent career contact me at theprofessor@gmail.com.

Happy travels!

Fall road trips

As summer slips into fall that signals me that it is time to think about some 3 F’s road trips! The 3 Fs’ of my planning process are fall foliage, festivals and football.

The fall is a great time to getaway and experience our great countryside. You will not have to roam to far to sample the pleasures of autumn.

This season offers up plenty of weekend events and activities. Some local events include Portsmouth’s River Days, Ashland’s Poage Landing Days, the Iron Furnace festival in Ironton and Guyandottes Civil War Days. There are plenty of specials events so just get creative.

For local ideas and a calendar of events I like to visit state tourism offices web sites and browse their calendar of events. Here are the links for Kentucky, WVA and Ohio: www.kytourism.com, www.wvtourism.com and www.discoverohio.com. Another search tool is to check out the county's or city’s web site. A phone call to these offices also works.

Footballin in Browns town!

Go Browns! It was 90 plus degrees on the shores of Lake Erie but it was great to see football again!

It was family day and there had to be over 10000 folks on hand. The fans were into the experience with plenty of tailgating and hooting & hollering for their “Dawgs”.

We sat in the “Dawg” (east end zone seats) steamed in the heat yet enjoyed the day. It was well worth the drive up to Ohio's north coast.

Go Browns!

Lake Erie Crushers, Frontier League & Huntington WVA

On my way up to Cleveland Browns stadium this weekend I made a detour and headed west to the small town of Avon OH. A new baseball team and stadium had come up on my radar screen (actually computer) and I just had to check it out.

I’d heard that there was a team named the Lake Erie Crushers playing over in my old neighborhood Lorain County. I was in the area and it was only a 30 minute drive from downtown Cleveland so it was worth the trip. Oh was it worth the trip!

I was overwhelmed by my discovery. Right off of I 90 the city of Avon had constructed a state of the art 5,000 plus seat stadium and attracted the Lake Erie Crushers a Frontier League baseball team. In addition to the Crushers the plans are to have tournaments, concerts and other events at the venue.

A few years ago there was only a gas station, fast food restaurant and plenty of open space at this interchange. Today there are a couple of hotels, a few more restaurants, construction of a new YMCA and plenty of signs of future development.

I close my eyes and envision the same possibilities at Huntington’s Kinetic Park. Build it and they will come. Build it and more will come. A family restaurant, sports pub, retail shop or another hotel may want to share this hot spot.

As a travel guy why do I care? It’s a multiple part answer. First I’m a baseball junkie and I’d love to travel the few miles to Huntington to catch the Herd and others play ball. Secondly I’m all for growing inbound tourism and generating revenue. Adding to your tourism infrastructure will bring in money. Money will help create jobs. I believe it’s a win-win situation.

Go Browns! Road trip time

I’m heading from Ohio’s south coast up to it north coast. Tomorrow is family day at Cleveland Browns stadium. Admission is free and they’ll be conducting a scrimmage. It should be similar to a regular season game day experience without the hefty price tag.

As an “inbound” tourist I’ll being contributing to Cleveland’s economy by spending money on food, lodging souvenirs and so forth. It won't be alot but every little bit helps.

The Browns are the magnet that is drawing me to the destination. We need to work on developing some more magnets here in the tri-state region.

Go Browns!

Bring college & minor league baseball to Huntington

The HD’s sports writer Chuck Landon made some interesting remarks recently about Marshall baseball, acquiring a minor league team and a new facility shared by both. I support this proposal 100%.

Sports are and can be a revenue generator. We have been exposed to this fact in the last month or so. Youth soccer, softball and baseball have brought plenty of outsiders into our region. During their visits they have spent money in area restaurants, hotels, gas stations, shops, etc. We need to build on this and look for additional ways to draw in tourists.

When the Blizzard hockey team played in downtown Huntington going to a match was a $100.00 evening for my family. We made a night of it with a pre game dinner, tickets, snacks and souvenirs. No hockey meant no more family nights out in the river city. Bring in 60 plus spring and summer baseball games and imagine the amount dollars that will spent locally. I’ll be one of the fans spending dollars at the stadium and other venues.

Inbound tourism does benefit the local community. Build it and they will come. I’ll disagree with the idea to build in Kinetic Park but hey let’s get a dialog started. Let’s start a grass roots movement to bring baseball back to Huntington.

Carnival Cruises new "Behind the Scenes" fun tours

On days at sea without any scheduled port calls cruise lines frequently offered complimentary tours of the bridge (control room), galley (kitchen) and other non public areas of your cruise ship. These informative tours were well received and always full.

Now Carnival Cruise Lines has taken these activities to the next level with their “ Behind the Fun” tours offered on the Carnival Valor and Carnival Conquest. This tour gives you an inside look at cruise operations in normally restricted areas-- such as the backstage area of the main lounge, laundry room and crew galley.

According to the cruise line this three-and-a-half-hour tour has been a big hit with their passengers and will be rolled out to all 12 ships with cruises of seven days or longer by the end of September.

The kicker for me is that you have to shell out $95 per person for the tour.

Has Carnival been recruiting ex airline sales & marketing personnel?

CK Crash football & touring Ironton, Catlettsburg and Kenova

I recently mentioned my great experience watching the Ceredo Kenova Crash a semi pro football team. With guests in from out of town (Arizona) I wanted to make it a true tri-state river experience so in addition to the football game. I planned to play tour guide and conduct some local sightseeing along with a riverside dining stop.

I drove them through Ironton’s downtown and they marveled at all the flowers. They were amazed with all the large pots, hanging baskets and other floral displays. Great job Ironton in Bloom! My guests want to know what fertilizer you use.

I timed it so we had a chance to park the car and stroll through and browse the vendors stalls at the 2nd street “Farmers Market” en route to lunch at the Fuzzy Duck. Admittedly it is an interesting name for a restaurant but dining on an open air deck inside the Center Street floodwalls seemed like a perfect way to enjoy the weather and Ohio River. Hailing from Arizona my “tourists” soaked up the river traffic and the vibrant greenery of the river valley.

After a lunch complete with some killer sweet potato fries we loaded up crossed the Ohio and headed for the floodwall murals of Ashland and Catlettsburg KY. Many of us that live in the area take attractions like these for granted but my group was astonished not only by the fantastic art work but also the size of the walls. Time permitting tomorrow I may run them down river to Portsmouth to catch their murals and to show them the high water mark of the 37 flood.

But let’s get back to our Saturday pre game activities. For a quick snack and ice cream treat we’re going to stop at Griffith and Feil. This Kenova drug store features a soda fountain that takes me back to the TV show “Happy Days”. Their soda fountain is made up of entirely original machinery and continues to crank out deliciously hand-mixed sodas, shakes and malts. In addition to their drinks and ice cream treats they have a menu that offers an array of sandwiches, burgers and salads. Yummy!

Filled up it is time to load up as it is game time gang!

Depending on when we leave Ward –Craycraft I have another WV treat to share. About a five minute drive from the stadium over Ceredo way is Austin's Homemade Ice Cream. Homemade ice cream need do I say more.

What a way to end a pleasant staycation day. Happy travels!

Stacation Ceredo Kenova style

Yesterday I watched a very good semi pro football game between the Ceredo Kenova Crash and the Summersville Mountain States Bruins. The squads are made up of ex college and high school players with plenty of hard hitting competition.

A couple hundred of fans were on hand and seemed to enjoy the action at historic Ward-Craycraft stadium. With a couple of lawn chairs, a cooler, peanuts and Cracker Jack I parked myself in the end zone to observe the clash. Admission was nominal only $5.00 for an adult and $2.00 for children/seniors. It was a great way to spend a summer evening and about the other missing item was the marching band.

The Crash have their last regular season game next Saturday August 8th. Check their website www.ckcrash.com for the starting time.

In addition to the game you can turn this into a half or all day mini visit of western WVA and eastern KY. I will share my thoughts with you later.