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

Costa Smeralda Guest Dies While Ship Was Docked in Civitavecchia

A Costa Smeralda guest died at the Port of Civitavecchia, with Italian authorities determining the incident was intentional and investigating the circumstances.

MSC Cruises Unveils Major Lineup of 2026 Spring Break and Easter Voyages

MSC Cruises spotlights 2026 spring break and Easter sailings across the Caribbean and Mediterranean, featuring new ships, warm-weather ports, and diverse itineraries.

Officials Board Carnival Encounter After Crew Allege Low Pay and Unsafe Conditions

Australian maritime officials boarded Carnival Encounter after a whistleblower revealed hundreds of crew complaints over pay, conditions, and safety oversight.

Cruise News Update: Weather Impact, Cancelled Show, Price Increases, and More

This week’s cruise news roundup covers itinerary changes, ship delays, weather disruptions, and the top stories affecting cruise travelers right now.

Holland America Rolls Out New Hawaii and West Coast Cruises

Holland America unveils nearly 35 new 2027–28 cruises, including Hawaii, Mexico, Panama Canal, and Pacific Coast sailings.

Cruise Line in Alaska Unexpectedly Shuts Down, All Cruises Cancelled

Alaskan Dream Cruises abruptly shuts down, cancelling all future sailings as guests await refund details for the small‑ship, indigenous‑owned Alaska line.

Star of the Seas Joins Growing List of Ships Missing CocoCay After Storms

Bad weather in the Bahamas prompts Star of the Seas to drop its CocoCay visit, continuing a string of cruise disruptions across the region.

Cruise News Update: Technical Issues, Policy Change, New Ships

A busy week in cruise news with technical issues, new policies, ship updates, and major announcements across Royal Caribbean, NCL, Princess, Carnival, and MSC.

Cruisers on Alert as New Storm Could Impact Carnival Pride Departure

A new winter storm could impact Carnival Pride’s February 1 departure from Baltimore, with Carnival monitoring conditions and advising guests to stay updated.