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
694
Articles
Expertise
Cruises, Luxury Travel, Journalism
31
Cruises
32
Countries Visited
Massachusetts
Location Based

Articles By Donna

Royal Caribbean Taps Artists to Paint Murals on Star of the Seas

Royal Caribbean will spotlight up and coming artists from the Caribbean on its second Icon-class, Star of the Seas.

Luxury Ship Delays Boarding to Undergo ‘Super Sanitizing’

Silver Ray passengers informed about embarkation delays due to extra sanitizing following an outbreak on the previous sailing.

Southampton Hits Huge Cruise Passenger Record, £1 Billion to Economy

Port of Southampton is booming thanks to cruises, with a new record of 3 million passengers in 2024 and £1 billion for the local economy.

Princess Cruises’ Ship Set for Unscheduled Dry Dock After Multiple Issues

Princess Cruises informs guests that Regal Princess will be taken out of service in late April for an essential dry dock.

Exotic Amazon and Icy Antarctica on Holland America’s 2026-27 Roster

Holland America Line details two cruise ships will sail South America and Antarctica for the 2026-2027 season.

Virgin Voyages Adds Exclusive Island to 2026 Annual Pass

Virgin Voyages details its 2026 Annual Pass with an exclusive week-long stay at Necker Island in the Caribbean.

Cruise News Update: Cancellations, Delay, Bumpy Roll-Out

Cruise Hive has you covered with yours cruise news round-up from the past week, including stories on NCL, Carnival, Princess Cruises, Outbreaks and more.

Cruise Line Has 9,500 Wildlife Sightings in 2024

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines announces its ships had 9,500 wildlife sightings the the ORCA charity in 2024.

Azamara Unveils Its 188-Night World Cruise, Its Longest-Ever!

Azamara Cruises unveils its 188-night journey that spans five continents, 37 countries, and 103 destinations.