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

New Report Reveals Who’s Cruising And Where They’re Going

CLIA reports shows that the cruise industry continues to grow and attract passengers of all ages, with 37.7 million expected to sail in 2025.

MSC Cruises Overhauls its Specialty Dining Options Fleetwide

MSC Cruises is overhauling its specialty dining options across the fleet with fixed-price menus and more flexibility.

P&O Cruises Cancels 35-Day Ventura Caribbean Cruise

P&O Cruises informs guests of a cruise cancellation in 2027 for the P&O Ventura cruise ship.

Costa Cruise Ship Gets Deep-Cleaned Following Outbreak

Guests on the Costa Favolosa cruise ship are informed of an outbreak and that a deep-clean around the ship is needed.

Cruise News Update: Further Suspensions, Private Destination, Dirty

We've got all kinds of cruise news to get you caught up with from the past week, with dirty cabin, new destination, poop cruise, suspensions and more!

Elderly Cruisers Charged With Jewel Theft During Port Call in Sicily

An elderly couple in Messina, Sicily from the Celebrity Constellation cruise ship are charged over jewelry theft.

Norwegian Touts Upgraded Ships as Summer Cruises Begin

Norwegian Cruise Line is gearing up for summer with the new Norwegian Aqua and the line's Alaska season with ships like Norwegian Bliss.

Navigator of the Seas Will Homeport in Singapore for the First Time

Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas to homeport in Singapore for the first time Between October 2026 and February 2027.

Princess Cruises Deploys Third Ship for Solar Eclipse Viewing

Princess Cruises adds a third Solar Eclipse voyage for 2026, with Enchanted Princess departing Rome on August 4 on a 14-day Mediterranean cruise.