Seabourn Cruise Line president and chief operating officer Deborah Natansohn has died in hospital in Florida following a heart attack aged 53.
She was president of the Carnival Corporation luxury cruise brand since July 2004 and was previously sales and marketing senior vice-president for Cunard.
She became the first female cruise line president in the US when she headed Orient Lines in 1998.
A former journalist, Natansohn also served as marketing vice-president for Ocean Cruise Lines and Pearl Cruises.
Report by Phil Davies
