Fort Lauderdale, FL -- Deborah Natansohn, the president and chief operating officer of Seabourn Cruise Line, died yesterday in a hospital here after suffering a heart attack on Sunday. She was 53.
Natansohn broke the gender barrier in 1998 when she was named president of Orient Lines, thus becoming the first female president of a major U.S. cruise line.
Natansohn was appointed president of Seabourn in July 2004. She came to Seabourn from Cunard Line, which she joined in November 2000 as senior vice president of sales and marketing for the Americas.
She also served as vice president of marketing for Ocean Cruise Lines and Pearl Cruises and as executive vice president at Orient Lines from 1992 until being appointed the line's president.
Natansohn began her career as a journalist and was an editor with Travel Trade magazine. She spent five years in London as director of marketing for Travellers International as well as the tour company, Arthur Frommer International.
In addition, Natansohn had chaired the marketing committee and served on the executive committee of Cruise Lines International Association, the cruise industry's primary trade association.
The luxury Seabourn line is one of 12 cruise brands of Miami-based Carnival Corporation.