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

Margaritaville at Sea Expands Heroes Pass to Second Ship in Fleet

Margaritaville at Sea expands its popular Heroes Sail Free program to its second ship in the fleet.

Disney Destiny to Showcase Iconic Characters From Marvel Universe

Disney Cruise Line details the Marvel aspect of its future new cruise ship, Disney Destiny, with new experiences and all-new spaces.

Deployment Changed for MSC Splendida Cruise Ship

MSC Cruises announces a deployment change for the MSC Splendida, with the ships sailing South America instead of Asia.

Cruise Ship is Largest Ever to Visit Scottish Port in Its 888-Year History

Costa Favolosa becomes the largest ever ship to visit the 888-year-old Scott port in Aberdeen during a record cruise season.

Disney Destiny to Sail from Fort Lauderdale, Details New Venues

New Disney Destiny cruise ship to sail from Fort Lauderdale in late 2025 will feature a new Lion King dining venue.

Cruise News Update: Cruise Attractions Ditched, New Carnival Ships and More

Cruise Hive has another weekly cruise news update, with new Carnival cruise ships, attractions dropped by Princess Cruises and more!

New Princess Cruises Ship to Boost Alaska Fleet for 2026

The new Star Princess will boost the number of Princess Cruises ships sailing to Alaska to eight, making it the cruise line's biggest ever season.

Celebrity Cruises Ship to Depart on Final ‘Golden Girls’ Theme Voyage

Celebrity Cruises ship to depart on the final Golden Girls theme cruise out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida on march 9, 2025.

Saudi Cruise Line Renames First Ship in Its Fleet

Cruise Saudi announces the renaming of its first cruise ship as AROYA, as part of the Aroya Cruises fleet.