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 Spirit Guests Informed of Major Itinerary Change

Norwegian Cruise Line makes a major itinerary change in Asia for the Norwegian Spirit cruise ship.

PortMiami Posts Record-Breaking Cruise Passenger Numbers

PortMiami reports a record-breaking number of cruise passengers for the 2024 fiscal year, with a total of 8,233,056.

Princess Cruises Swaps World Cruise With 131-Day Pacific Voyage

Princess Cruises announces a new 131-day Pacific voyage that will set sale in early 2026, replacing the previous world cruise for Coral Princess.

Take a Peek at Mein Schiff Flow’s Indoor, Outdoor Spaces

TUI Cruises details interior and outdoor spaces that will be featured on the new Mein Schiff Flow.

Bar Harbor Rejects Plan to Raise Daily Cruise-Arrival Cap

Residents of Bar Harbor reject the plan to raise the daily cruise ship limits. It means the daily cap of just 1,000 cruise visitors remains.

Famous Brazilian Port Readies for Busy Cruise Season

Rio de Janeiro is gearing up for a busy cruise season with 37 different ships expected to make a call.

Australia Posts Huge Economic Boost From Cruise Tourism

New data released sees new South Wales in Australia benefit from largest-ever economic return from the cruise industry.

Major Grant Will Fund Shore Power Project in Alaska Port

The City of Seward is awarded a $45.7 million federal grant for shore power at its cruise port.

Major Canadian Port Breaks Cruise Arrivals Record in 2024

The Port of Vancouver ends a record 2024 cruise season and is expecting 1.32 million passengers between march 11 and October 29, 2024.