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

TUI Cruises Cancels Voyage In Favor of Charter Sailing

TUI Cruises cancels a cruise for Mein Schiff 4 in favor of a fitness charter sailing in October 2026.

Carnival Slashes Food Waste and Saves Millions

Carnival Corporation has achieved a 44% reduction in food waste that has resulted in avoiding $250 million in food costs.

Carnival Clears Up Confusion Over Platinum Guest’s Water Bottle Charge

Carnival Cruise Line clears up the confusion after a Platinum guest wanted to remove gratuities over water bottle charge.

Cruise News Update: Ships Break Free, Behavior Warning, Oversold

We're here with another round-up of the big cruise news stories from the past week, including cruise ships breaking from moorings, and more!

Longtime Chairman Stepping Down at Royal Caribbean Group

Royal Caribbean group makes a leadership adjustment with Richard Fain stepping down as Chair of the Board of Directors.

Ovation of the Seas Begins Inaugural Season from Los Angeles

Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas begins inaugural season sailing out of Los Angeles, California and visiting ports for the first time!

Diana Ross Announced as Godmother of Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas

Global icon Diana Ross has been announced as godmother for Royal Caribbean's massive new Star of the Seas.

Oceania Cruises Reveals Sonata Class as New-Build’s First Steel Is Cut

Oceania Sonata is revealed as the first steel is cut for the new class luxury vessel at the Fincantieri shipyard.

Holland America to Deploy a Third Ship to Northern Europe

Holland America Line to deploy a third cruise ship to Northern Europe, with Zuiderdam sailing out of Amsterdam in 2027.