Self-service system for selling travel-related services or products

A self-service method of selling tours outside of a local area by means of an interactive electronic travel service system functioning like a travel agent, comprising the steps of:

• initiating two way communication between a user and the system;
• asking the user to select a destination;
• requesting the user to select a pricing category from a number of pricing categories for tours to a destination selected by the user;
• displaying information on tour packages outside of a local area;
• displaying a calendar on a display screen for the user to select departure and return dates for said tour;
• querying the user for selection of lodging and/or car rental;
• closing a sale and confirming a reservation for the tour with the lodging and/or car rental selected by the user;
• wherein said querying step queries the user as to whether the user is a first time visitor and whether the user is familiar with the selected destination, and said querying step further comprises:
• providing all available lodging at the selected destination when the user indicates that the user is a repeat visitor or is familiar with the selected destination, and providing one or two suggested choices for lodging when the user indicates that the user is a first time visitor or is unfamiliar with the selected destination.

A self-service method of selling cruises by means of an interactive electronic travel service system functioning like a travel agent, comprising the steps of:

• initiating two way communication between a user and the system;
• asking the user to select a cruise destination, a travel season and length of cruise desired;
• qualifying the user for input data on cruise travel knowledge, price range, lifestyle and age information;
• and
• recommending at least one particular cruise in response to the input data.

A method of selling optional tours and other travel-related services and products on cruise ships by means of an interactive electronic travel system functioning like a travel agent, comprising the steps of:

• initiating two-way communication between a user and the system;
• providing to the user data and choice of said services or products, said data including information concerning ports of call for said services or products;
• qualifying the user for preferences and/or attributes;
• receiving said input data and searching a database for said desired services or products available during said ports of call;
• and
• closing a sale for optional tours and other travel-related services and products.