It occurs to me that a long time ago, when I recognized that I could look upon the field of decorative glass as a “competitive arena,” that I made some assumptions about the approach some of the others were taking to marketing product. To a point, I was critical of the fact that some parties would abandon the needs of the many for the interests of the few. I used to call it “Casinos and Cruise Ships,” for a title. “So and so is so hard to get product from … they’re always busy doing casinos and cruise ships.Now,  with wide-open eyes, I’ve just come back from a trip on the largest cruise ship in the world, and let me tell you, I can see why this venue is an opportunity, and I apologize for any criticism that might have been implied with regard to my former viewpoint.

Front to back (oh, that’s bow to stern, or fore to aft in nautical, sorry) side to side, and top floor to clear down in the crew’s quarters, 12 floors below the top deck, EVERYWHERE there was decorative glass (just for art), decorative structural glass, decorative functional glass, in fact, I couldn’t imagine this ship without it. Every elevator door, every dining room entry, every bar, the colored glass water spillway at the kids’ splash park, the lighted glass bridges that changed color as you walked upon them, the signs, the lighting fixtures, the unbelievable heavy bent glass railings (the entire ship had glass balustrades), both interior and exterior, and (deep breath) oh my goodness, the list just does not stop.

It was hard to walk ten paces without catching a great piece of glass somewhere in the line of vision. If I wasn’t walking on it or holding on to it, I was admiring the quality and unique character of the installations as well as the huge contingent of staff engaged in perpetually cleaning the glass to keep it looking pristine.

Now granted, this ship was built in Finland, and I’m guessing most of the glass is European, so most of us stateside probably missed out on this one. However, if you look at the ship as a whole for what an opportunity it must be to secure a commission of this magnitude, it must be like striking gold to be contracted to place a huge volume of decorative glass of any kind in a single venue.

More power to those of you who are out there firing the big guns at targets that represent big business, big commitments, and the opportunity to put all the resources that this industry has and continues to develop to work, so you can make a great living while placing great glass product for all to enjoy! Happy cruising!