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

Princess Cruises Deploying Seven Ships as Alaska Season Kicks Off

Seven cruise ships from Princess Cruises will be sailing Alaska, as the 2025 season gets underway.

MSC Cruise Cancelled From New York for Mechanical Repairs

MSC Meraviglia's May 11 cruise out of New York has been cancelled so a propulsion issues can be fixed.

Disney Cruise Line Expands on Dining and Activities Aboard New-Build

Disney Cruise Line releases a ton of new details for its new Disney Destiny, including new dining experiences.

Cruise Guest Charged in Choking Incident Departs His CEO Job

CEO who was a cruise passenger on Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady and allegedly choked another guests, is no longer a CEO.

298 Sailings Set for Seattle as Alaska Cruise Season Begins

The 2025 Alaska cruise seasons officially begins out of Port of Seattle, Washington with 298 sailings expected.

Industry Rebuffs Hawaii After Cruise Taxes Are Proposed

Norwegian Cruise Line rebuffs after Hawaii lawmakers approved measures for a tax on cruises, impacting ships like Pride of America.

Celebrity Cruises’ Ship Kicks Off Second Season From the UK

The Celebrity Apex is starting its second season sailing from Southampton in the UK on a range of 4 to 14 night voyages.

PortMiami Readies For Spectacular Christening of MSC World America

MSC Cruises readies for its biggest night of the year as MSC World America will named by godmother Drew Barrymore in Miami.

Viking Unveils First Hydrogen-Powered Ships, Orders Two Vessels

The world's first hydrogen-powered cruise will be constructed by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for Viking Cruises.