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

Port Canaveral Moving Ahead With Ambitious Growth Plans

Port Canaveral is investing $500 million into enhancing all aspects, including for cruise terminals.

Two Norwegian Cruise Ships Upgraded Before Launch of Summer Season

Norwegian Epic and Pride of America to debut new enhancements, with upgraded venues and spaces.

MSC Cruises Boosts Family Fun Offerings for Summer Season

MSC Cruises details new family entertainment across the fleet, including LEGO, discos, game shows and more!

Icon of the Seas Guests Miffed as Labadee Calls Still Cancelled

Icon of the Seas guests annoyed as Labadee continues to be cancelled and the ship will sail a sea day rather than a replacement port.

Cruise News Update: Floating Out, Chair Hogs, Cancellation, Upgrades

Cruise Hive’s weekly update is the best way to stay on top of all the big developments impacting the global cruise community. This week,...

Canadian Port Opens Cruise Season, Predicts Record-Breaking Year

The Port of Montreal in Canada launches its 2025 cruise season and is expecting a record-breaking year.

MSC Cruises Cancels Sailing, Schedules Ship For Dry Dock Instead

MSC Cruises cancels a sailing for the MSC Seashore due to a dry dock, but guests have plenty of advanced notice.

Spruced-Up Holland America Ship Set to Launch Europe Season

Holland America Line's Oosterdam cruise ship returns to service following a major two-week dry dock at a Bahamas shipyard.

Cruise News Update: Theft, Major Flooding, Upgrades, Cancellations

Cruise Hive is here with a weekly recap of the big news stories, including on Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival and Royal Caribbean.