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

Holland America is Heading to Two Destinations Passengers Will Like

Holland America Line 2024 line-up includes a Canada and New England season that features Iceland and Greenland.

Norwegian Cruise Line Cutting Back on Entertainment

Norwegian Cruise Line is making entertainment cutbacks across the fleet, including reducing onboard staff and production shows.

MSC Cruise Ship Makes History at Arabian Gulf Port

The new MSc World Europa cruise ship was welcomed at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam in Saudi Arabia for the very first time.

Adventures by Disney Unveils 2024 River Cruises

Adventure by Disney announces 2024 river cruise itineraries, with 22 departures planned and sailings on the Rhine, the Danube and the Seine River.

Two MSC Ships Embark on Simultaneous World Cruises

Two MSC cruise ships depart Genoa, Italy, on round-the-world voyages, MSC Poesia on a 117-day itinerary and MSC Magnifica on a 119-day voyage.

Virgin Cruise Ship Rescues 18 Cuban Refugees from Sinking Boat

The Scarlet Lady cruise ship, operated by Virgin Voyages, rescued 18 Cuban refugees from a sinking boat in the Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean’s Private Island Voted Best of 2022

Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas has been voted as the Best Cruise Line Private Island of 2022.

Carnival Celebration is the Best New Cruise Ship of 2022

Carnival Celebration has been voted the Best New Cruise Ship of 2022 in Cruise Hive's annual Cruise Ship awards.

Carnival’s BOLT Roller Coaster Wins Best Cruise Ship Feature

Carnival Cruise Line's BOLT Roller Coaster wins Best Cruise Line Feature of 2022 in Cruise Hive's annual Cruise Ship Awards.