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

Cunard Unveils Winter 2025 Cruises, Plus World Voyage

Cunard announces its 2025 winter program, offering over 133 cruises and 159 unique destinations around the world.

MSC Cruises Works to Reduce Chance of Ships Hitting Whales

MSC Cruises works towards making sure any chance of ships colliding with whales is reduced with a new training program.

Holland America Line Unveils New Cruise Tour Perk

Holland America Line gives spending money for 2023 Alaska Cruisetours to the Yukon as part of its "Time of Your Life" Wave offering.

New MSC Cruise Ship to be Named in Copenhagen

MSC Cruises announces new details about the naming ceremony for the new MSC Euribia, which debuts in June 2023.

Carnival Cruise Line Ships to Serve New Drink

Carnival Cruise Line is now offering Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar’s Premium Santo Tequila across the fleet.

Celebrity Cruises Becomes First Line to Earn Coveted Award

Celebrity Cruises became the first cruise line to earn the coveted Forbes Travel Guide Award for three different classes of ships.

Cruise Lines Move on Decarbonisation of the Cruise Industry

The Costa Group, which is owned by Carnival moves towards the decarbonisation of the cruise industry in partnership with Proman.

Former Carnival-Owned Vessels to Become Residential Ships

Two former Carnival-owned Holland America cruise ships will sail as residential ships, with guests able to rent a cabin.

MSC Cruises Increasing Presence in Spain, With 500 Calls

MSC Cruises is to increase its presence in Spain by 23% this summer, with 384 calls out of a total of 500 calls in 2023.