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

Busy Alaska Port Green Lights a Fifth Cruise Ship Dock

The busy cruise port of Juneau in Alaska will have a fifth dock for cruise ships to use, as the assembly has now approved the project.

Carnival Cruise Line Details Big Plan for Three US Homeports

Carnival Cruise Line is sending a bigger ship to Baltimore, homeporting Festivale at Port Canaveral, and year-round cruises from Alabama.

Record Ship Calls and Embarkations Seen at Ports Across UK

The UK cruise sector is booming with an increase of calls and embarkations across its ports, including Southampton and Dover.

It’s Official: MSC Group Inaugurates New Cruise Terminal

MSC Group officially opens it's shiny new cruise terminal in Barcelona, Spain for MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys brands.

New Residential Cruise Brand Reveals Second Ship From Norwegian

The newly formed Crescent Seas announces a second luxury vessel from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

Majestic Princess Gets New Culinary, Lounge Venues During Dry Dock

Princess Cruises details new revamped spaces after Majestic Princess completes a major dry dock.

Margaritaville at Sea Reveals Longer Cruises, First-Ever Port Overnight

Margaritaville at Sea reveals new longer itineraries out of Tampa, Florida, including its first-ever overnight in New Orleans.

Cruise Lines Embrace April Fool’s Day With Zany Antics and Pranks

Cruise Lines embrace April Fools Day, including Carnival's Duolingo World Cruise, Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Land, Virgin's BransonBerry and more!

Weather Forces Debark Change for Norwegian Aqua’s Maiden Crossing

Bad weather has changed both where and when the new Norwegian Aqua will arrive in the United States on her maiden voyage.