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
631
Articles
Expertise
Cruises, Luxury Travel, Journalism
31
Cruises
32
Countries Visited
Massachusetts
Location Based

Articles By Donna

Protests Stop Cruise Ship From Calling at Greek Island

Protests have stopped an Israeli-owned cruise ship from calling at a Greek port of call.

Progress Continues at Antigua’s New Cruise Terminal

Government officials visit the construction site of the new cruise terminal in Antigua to see how the progress is going.

Cruise News Update: Ship Problems, Celebration Key, Loyalty

Cruise Hive has another weekly news update for you, including ship problems, opening of Celebration Key, Carnival's loyalty explanation and more!

Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas Officially Departs Finnish Shipyard

Royal Caribbean's massive new Star of the Seas departs the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, heads for Spain for final preparations.

Holland America Reintroduces Guest Tours of Restricted Ship Areas

Holland America Line's popular behind-the-scenes ship tours are making a comeback, but there will be a cost!

Cruise Port Reopens for Regular Calls Following Major Earthquake

Port Vila in Vanuatu, which was heavily impacted by a major earthquake in December 2024, is now reopening for cruise ships.

Carnival to Deploy Bigger Cruise Ship in New Orleans

Carnival Cruise Line to deploy Carnival Dream in New Orleans starting in May 2027, which will increase capacity, along with Carnival Liberty.

Logo-Light Spruce Up Revealed on Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas

Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor logo on the new Star of the Seas has been upgraded with new lighting features.

Catalina Island Shifting to Formal Port Agreements With Cruise Lines

Catalina Island off the US West Coast is working on formal port agreements with the cruise lines.