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

Florida County Appears Ready to Buy Iconic SS United States

The Okaloosa (Florida) County Board of County Commissioners has approved to purchased the iconic SS United States to use as a reef.

Carnival Cruise Line to Boost Australia Capacity With Four Ships

Carnival Cruise Line is doubling its fleet in Australia with the additional two ships from sister line P&O Cruises.

Alaska Port Imposes New Cruise Passenger Arrival Fee

A new arrivals fee is being implemented in Haines, Alaska for cruise passengers, with planned increases in 2027 and 2029.

Celebrity Reveals New Deployments, 110-Night Grand Voyage Detailed

Celebrity Cruises reveal its 2026-27 deployments, including Celebrity Xcel in Europe and the line's first Grand Voyage.

Audition Call Reveals New Show Will Debut on Star of the Seas

It looks like that Royal Caribbean may have just accidentally revealed that thew Back to the Future show will feature on Star of the Seas.

Major Cruise Upgrade Project Gets Under Way in San Juan

A ground breaking ceremony takes place at San Juan Cruise Port, which is $100 million project for enhancements.

Star Princess Reaches Major Construction Milestone at Shipyard

The second Sphere-class cruise ship, Star Princess, reaches a major construction milestone at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy.

MSC Cruises to Debut Eataly Dining Venue on New World-Class Ship

MSC Cruises unveils details the only Eataly at sea, along with new new Greek restaurant and on-the-go options.

Mediation Begins in Legal Battle Over Iconic SS United States

Mediation between the SS United States Conservancy and Penn Warehousing & Distribution is now underway.