Premium cruise fares

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations, the description carries the full burden, and it does disclose the returned content and a real data caveat (prices are not converted between currencies). It does not explicitly confirm read-only/non-destructive behavior or freshness semantics of 'latest published', so it is strong but not fully comprehensive.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Three short sentences, front-loaded with what it returns, then routing guidance, then the currency caveat. Every sentence carries distinct information with no filler.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

No output schema exists, so the description correctly takes on the job of enumerating return values, and the currency note prevents a likely misinterpretation. It could say a bit more about the shape or freshness of the crawl, but an agent has enough to call it correctly.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The tool takes zero parameters, which is the baseline-4 case per the rubric. There is nothing for the description to clarify beyond that, and it introduces no misleading parameter expectations.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

States a specific verb (describe) and resource (the latest published crawl) and enumerates the fields returned: crawl date, row count, and the real line/source/ship/rate values. It implicitly contrasts with search_rates by framing itself as the discovery step, though the distinction is made explicit mostly in the usage sentence rather than the purpose sentence.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Explicitly states when to call it — before search_rates, and specifically when an exact line, source, or ship name is unknown — naming the sibling alternative and the condition that selects this tool. Nothing is left to inference about when this tool applies.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations, the description carries the full burden and does well: it discloses case-insensitivity across filters, substring matching for title, OR-within-filter / AND-across-filter logic, inclusive range formats, the default sort ordering, and that each row's price stays in its own currency. It stops short of describing the returned row shape or any rate/auth constraints, but for a read-only search this is substantial.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Dense but front-loaded: the purpose sentence comes first, then filter semantics, then sort behavior and defaults. Nearly every sentence carries operational information, though the sort-field enumeration is list-heavy and could be tightened.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a 12-parameter, zero-required search tool with no annotations and no output schema, the description covers filtering, combination logic, ranges, sort syntax and defaults well enough to call correctly. The main remaining gap is what a returned row looks like beyond the per-currency price note, which is not covered anywhere else.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema coverage is 100%, so the baseline is 3, but the description adds real meaning beyond the schema: cross-parameter OR/AND combination rules, the exact accepted range syntax for nights/price/ppd and departs, and the sort field alias mappings (cruiseline=line, source_label=source, number_of_days=nights, lowest_price=price, price_per_day=ppd, comment=rate). The nested anyOf array/string acceptance for line/source/ship is left to the schema.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

States a specific verb and resource: 'Search the latest published cruise fares', with scope clarified as 'the full crawl, including Contitrans and Crusit'. It references describe_rates as the source of valid line/source/ship values, which gives partial sibling differentiation, but never states plainly what search_rates does that describe_rates does not.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Usage is implied through the filter semantics ('Empty line, source, ship, or rate means all of that dimension') and the pointer that those values 'must otherwise match describe_rates', which hints that describe_rates enumerates valid values. However, there is no explicit when-to-use/when-not statement telling the agent to call describe_rates first or in place of this tool.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.