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

Norwegian Encore Sailing With New Spaces Following Recent Dry Dock

Norwegian Encore is sailing with new spaces and upgrades following a recent dry dock that took place in December 2024.

MSC World America Completes Sea Trials, Preps for Delivery

MSC World America completes sea trials and and now prepares for delivery as the second World-class MSC cruise ship.

Funding Secured for New Seward Cruise Dock and Terminal

The funding has been secured for a new two-ship pier and terminal in Seward, Alaska known as the "Port of Tomorrow."

US Homeport Agrees on New Cruise Arrivals Fee for Passengers

Massport in Boston has approved a new cruise passengers arrivals fee, which will also increase by $3 every year until 2030.

Costa Cruises Opens Up 139-Day World Cruise

Bookings open for a Costa Deliziosa 139-day around the world cruise, that will visit 29 countries across 5 continents.

Norwegian Cruise Line Just Made it Even Easier to Book a Cruise

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings just made it easier to book a cruise across its brands with PayPal now being an option at checkout.

Princess Cruises is Expanding its Cruisetours in Alaska

Princess Cruises expands National Park Cruisetour options in Alaska for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

Port Everglades Is On a Record-Breaking Path for 2025

The cruise homeport of Port Everglades in Florida, is on course for a busy 2025 and already had a 25% increase in its first quarter of Fiscal Year.

The History Channel Pact Elevates Cruise Line’s Itineraries

Holland America Line partners up with the HISTORY Channel to feature exclusive itineraries and experiences that focus on history.