Web App Development Project

Product Requirements Document (PRD)

Project Name: NextGen Back-to-Back Cruise Concierge (Softr + Airtable)

1. Project Objective

To build a highly aesthetic, step-by-step web application that allows users to seamlessly search, pair, and bundle consecutive ("Back-to-Back") cruise itineraries.

CRITICAL DESIGN & SCOPE PRINCIPLES:

Geographic Constraint: This application operates strictly and exclusively within the South Florida market, covering only PortMiami and Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale).

No Payment Processing: This application is a discovery, matching, and routing engine. It will NOT collect payments, process financial transactions, or book inventory directly. All final checkouts are handled via outbound deep-linking to official partner sites.

Clean GUI Over "Eye Charts": The front end must be built as a clean, elegant, step-by-step "Wizard" utilizing Softr's conditional visibility blocks. Information must be revealed dynamically based on user choices to prevent a crowded interface.

2. Account Ownership & Client Environment

To maintain total asset security, the architecture will be deployed entirely within client-owned environments:

Softr & Airtable Accounts: Created and owned by the Client (Starting on the Free Tiers during development).

Developer Access: The developer will be invited as a collaborator into the client's Softr and Airtable workspaces. No master account passwords will be shared.

3. Data Integration, Scraping, & Deep-Linking Architecture

Because this app relies entirely on public information, the developer must construct the data pipelines using the following parameters:

Cruise Data Source: The developer must configure an automated nightly web scraper (e.g., via Apify or custom automation scripts) to pull live public schedule data, ports, itineraries, and baseline category pricing directly from the public-facing booking engines of Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises.

The Outbound Deep-Link Engine: All "Book Now" buttons will function as parameterized external web links. When a user clicks to book, Softr must open a new browser tab redirecting the user to the public booking pages of Royal Caribbean or Expedia with the specific dates, destinations, or hotel properties already pre-filled in the URL string.

4. Step-by-Step User Flow & Advanced Matching Logic

Step 1: Loyalty & Cabin Preferences (Smart Filters)

Before browsing itineraries, the user personalizes their profile:

Loyalty Tier Dropdown: User selects their brand status tier for Crown & Anchor Society or Captain's Club. The UI displays a clean text badge summarizing their cross-brand shared loyalty perks.

Preferred Cabin Style: Selection buttons for Inside, Oceanview, Balcony, or Suite to display category-specific pricing for both legs of the journey.

Step 2: The Cruise Match & Smart Fallback Logic

The user selects their ideal departure timeframe and initial sailing out of Miami or Fort Lauderdale. The Airtable backend then runs a two-tier matching calculation:

Tier 1 (Seamless Match): The app searches for and displays sister cruises that depart from Miami or Fort Lauderdale on the exact same day the first cruise returns.

Tier 2 (Smart Fallback Gap Match): If a seamless same-day match does not exist, the app automatically activates a fallback filter. It will calculate and display consecutive cruise pairs that have a 1-day, 2-day, or maximum 3-day gap between them.

Step 3: The "What Else Do You Need?" Bundle Screen

The user moves to a clean dashboard with simple toggle switches for travel add-ons. Information only appears if a toggle is turned ON:

[Toggle] Hotel Stay (Mandatory Auto-On for Gap Days):

If a Tier 1 Seamless Match is picked: This toggle is optional. If turned on, it recommends partner hotels for a pre-cruise stay.

If a Tier 2 Gap Match is picked: This toggle automatically switches ON and cannot be turned off. The app dynamically displays a curated list of recommended hotels situated between the Miami and Fort Lauderdale ports to cover the specific 1, 2, or 3-day gap. Clicking a hotel deep-links the user to Expedia with those exact gap dates pre-filled.

[Toggle] Air Travel: If enabled, displays a dedicated routing layout directing users to book flights exclusively through Royal Caribbean’s official flight booking framework (Flights by Royal / Air2Sea) to ensure arrival guarantees.

[Toggle] Port Arrival Logistics (Parking vs. Transfers): Filters transport preferences:

If Driving (Official Port Parking): Displays official, on-site port parking info, daily rates, and terminal directions specifically for PortMiami and Port Everglades.

If Flying/Shuttling (Transfers): Displays port-to-port and airport-to-port transfer shuttle options using deep links to reputable local shuttle providers.

5. Technical Backend Requirements (Airtable Logic)

All matching logic and gap-day calculations must happen natively inside Airtable using formula fields, dates, or rollups.

Softr must only be used to read and display the final matched pairs, ensuring the app operates entirely within the data and action limits of the Softr Basic plan.

6. Freelancer Contract & Revision Terms (Read Before Bidding)

Live-Launch Tweaks Included: Your fixed quote must include minor layout adjustments, text changes, UI polishing, and bug fixes up until the moment the application officially goes live on our custom domain.

Milestone Payout Structure:

Milestone 1 (70%): Released upon database configuration, successful web-scraper data delivery into Airtable, and a fully functional staging/preview app showing the gap matching logic working.

Milestone 2 (30%): Released ONLY after the app is live on the production domain, thoroughly tested by the client, and all final interface tweaks are completely resolved.