Rock ‘n’ Roll in Cleveland

Buddy Holly’s high school diploma, John Lennon’s Sgt. Pepper jacket and Elvis Presley’s guitar are among the items in the permanent collections at Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, which opens this weekend.

The $92-million, 150,000-square-foot facility (pictured left) on the shore of Lake Erie is billed as the world’s first museum dedicated to the living heritage of rock ‘n’ roll music. It is packed with musical memorabilia and also has outdoor and indoor performance spaces, working studios and interactive exhibits. Plans call for a library and archives at the museum, which was designed by architect I.M. Pei. Museum officials anticipate 1 million visitors in the first year.

Located at 1 Key Plaza, Cleveland, OH 44114, the museum will be open Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $10.90 for adults; $7.65 for seniors and students 11 and younger. Information: (216) 781-7625.

Singleworld Suspends Business

Singleworld Cruises and Tours, which for almost 40 years has provided single travelers with a way to share experiences and expenses, has suspended operations.

A telephone recording at the company’s Rye, N.Y., headquarters, says, “Due to extremely unfavorable market conditions, Singleworld Cruises and Tours has suspended operations until further notice. Singleworld is in the process of notifying cruise lines, ground operators and travel agents. Singleworld will be in contact with those who have bookings.”

Although Singleworld offered land tours, it was best known for matching singles on cruises and thus saving them single supplements, said Jens Jurgen, editor and publisher of the “Travel Companions” newsletter for single travelers. “Singleworld was one [of the few] companies that offered a “guaranteed share” on cruises,” he said last week. “The closing came as a total surprise. They had such a good name in the travel industry; it really was a surprise to me.”

Singleworld has no plans to offer refunds or to file for bankruptcy, according to the American Society of Travel Agents, which had its last contact with the company on Aug. 16, according to Mike McClarnon, manager of consumer affairs for ASTA.

McClarnon said consumers who have booked tours or cruises with Singleworld should find out whether their tours or cruises had received any payment at all. If they paid by credit card, they should contact the credit card company immediately, he said.

He also said that many travelers had purchased cancellation insurance directly from Singleworld, “which never covers default.” He advised travelers booking cruises or tours to buy insurance from another source and to make sure it includes default.”

‘95 Handbook for Air Couriers

The 1995 revised edition of “The Air Courier’s Handbook: Travel the World on a Shoestring” is new from Big City Books. The slim paperback includes an extensive question-and-answer section, “Five Courier Tales,” a listing of courier companies and examples of standard contracts and instructions. It is not sold in bookstores but may be ordered for $10 from Big City Books, 7047 Hidden Lane, Loomis, CA 95650.