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

Cruise Line Details Major Changes Passengers Will Love

Holland America Line details major new changes for Grand Voyages that passengers will love, including more onboard offerings and upgrades.

Holland America Line Details 28-Day Arctic Voyage

Holland America Line's Nieuw Statendam to sail a 28-day arctic voyage departing Rotterdam in June 2025.

Carnival Jubilee Roller Coaster Nears Completion

Carnival Jubilee's BOLT roller coaster nears completing as the ship is in the final outfitting phase at the Meyer Werft shipyard.

First Celebrity Cruises’ Ship to Homeport at World’s Busiest Cruise Port

Celebrity Equinox to homeport at the world's busiest cruise port, the first Celebrity Cruises ship to do so.

Port Operator Announces Expansion Plans at Caribbean Destination

Global Ports Holding expands its presence at the Caribbean destination of Saint Lucia with a new agreement and upgrade plans.

Princess Cruises Unveils Antarctica and South America Voyages

Princess Cruises unveils new 2024-2025 sailings in South America and Antarctica for two cruise ships.

Expert Reveals How Cruise Passengers Should Drink Tea

Carnival's Cunard Line teams up with an etiquette expert on how to drink afternoon tea correctly on a cruise.

Princess Cruises to Sail Exclusive Theme Cruise

Princess Cruises details an exclusive theme sailing for the Discovery Princess in November 2023 hosted by Discovery Channel's Adam Savage.

Royal Caribbean Notifies Guests of Unexpected Increase

Royal Caribbean informs booked guests of tax increases on the cruise fare dur to the Bahamas increasing rates from 2024.