Donna Tunney

Cruise News Writer

Donna Tunney is a travel news/feature writer and editor with 20-plus years covering cruise news, luxury travel, and Europe and UK destinations. A former staffer at Travel Weekly and at the USAToday Network, she also was a luxury travel columnist at Travel Market Report, and a cruise columnist at Sherman's Travel.

How did you get started in cruises?

My first job in the travel industry was copyeditor at the trade publication Travel Weekly in 1990. In 1992 my editors sent me on a cruise assignment to Eastern Canada/New England, and I’ve been hooked on cruising ever since. I eventually became Travel Weekly’s senior cruise editor, in 2011, and continue to be a cruise contributor at the publication.

What makes you a cruise expert?

Covering cruising from a business perspective gave me insights into the market as well as historical knowledge of the industry. I have sailed on about 30 cruises with 14 cruise lines, on both ocean and river ships.

I was a travel and cruise content producer for Travel Market Report, Sherman’s Travel, and TheTravel.com, and held senior editorial positions at regional newspapers in the USA Today Network. I’ve also received three reporting and editing awards from the New England Newspaper & Press Association (2005, 2015, and 2018).

You can check my Muck Rack profile here.

What’s your favorite cruise line?

It’s hard to choose just one, but I’d have to say Cunard, the UK-based luxury line. As a lifelong Anglophile, I enjoy the British atmosphere onboard — the Golden Lion Pub, formal afternoon tea, white glove service in the dining rooms, and more. This is the line that operates the iconic Queen Mary 2, which has, believe it or not, a planetarium onboard.

What’s your top tip for new cruisers?

Start by booking a short itinerary of just two or three nights to see if cruising generally agrees with you before committing to a full week or longer voyage.

You find out more about the Cruise Hive team right here.

2022
Started at Cruise Hive
705
Articles
Expertise
Cruises, Luxury Travel, Journalism
31
Cruises
32
Countries Visited
Massachusetts
Location Based

Articles By Donna

Cruise News Update: Old Ship Beached, Departure Changes, Stowaway

It's time to recap the big cruise news headlines of the week with another must-read edition of Cruise Hive’s Cruise News Update. This week...

Viking Cruises Cancels Calls to Greek Island Following Earthquakes

Viking Cruises cancels calls to Santorini in Greece following a series of earthquakes impacting the island and region.

Port Everglades Is On a Record-Breaking Path for 2025

The cruise homeport of Port Everglades in Florida, is on course for a busy 2025 and already had a 25% increase in its first quarter of Fiscal Year.

The History Channel Pact Elevates Cruise Line’s Itineraries

Holland America Line partners up with the HISTORY Channel to feature exclusive itineraries and experiences that focus on history.

Order Finalized for 4 Giant New Norwegian Cruise Line Ships

Norwegian Cruise Line and Fincantieri finalize an order of 4 giant new cruise ships at approximately 226,000 gross tons.

Celebrity Xcel Will Feature a First of its Kind Concept

The new Celebrity Xcel cruise ship feature The Bazaar, a new first of its kind multi-level and multi-sensory concept.

Cruise News Brief: Port’s Huge Day, Earlier Debut, Super Bowl Onboard

Some huge cruise news stories in our weekly brief from Cruise Hive, including an earlier debut, port's busiest day, adjustment for Super Bowl and more.

You Can Now Start Booking the Huge MSC World Asia

MSC Cruises opens bookings for the new MSC World Asia mega-ship, with the vessel cruising the Mediterranean from December 2026.

Norfolk Moves Ahead With Cruise Terminal Upgrades

The Half Moone Cruise Terminal in Norfolk, Virgin is moving forward with $12 million investment of upgrades.