River Cruise Advisor

Of all the jobs in the world, surely Rudolph van der Meulen’s must be among the best. His job, as instructed by his bosses, is to cruise on a river boat and simply to do this: nothing.

While most people might call that a vacation, it’s a tall order for the otherwise-ambitious 37-year-old hotel manager on Uniworld’s River Empress. Nonetheless, on the day when I talked with him, Rudy was living up to his superior’s expectations with admirable aplomb.

Nothing Doing

Taking in Passau’s pretty waterfront from the sunny upper deck of River Empress, Rudy could have been just another passenger aboard the river boat — were it not for his uniform. But had you been a passenger during the eight-day cruise along the Danube, as I was, you would have known that Rudy’s job was far from doing nothing.

Rudy’s responsibility was (and still is) to manage a grand floating hotel and to keep the more than 100 passengers happy. His bosses demand that he do so by managing effectively and by delegating, freeing himself up to listen to — and respond to — guests.

Corporate headquarters’ gift to Rudy: “The One Minute Manager,” suggested reading for managers in Uniworld’s fleet.

Doing Something Right

Rudy’s style reflects a management philosophy that has trickled down from the upper echelons of Uniworld’s corporate headquarters in California. It’s a style that puts trust in employees, and it’s one that goes a long way in explaining why passengers on River Empress consistently give such high marks to the staff.

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