The time for Normandy is now.
This journey is personal.
And we'd love to share it with you!

​My Grandpa Rendel (1911-86) was a pediatrician in Hammond, Indiana, who courageously made the decision to leave his medical practice and young family behind to serve in the U.S. Naval Reserve during WWII.  He became the Chief Surgeon aboard the USS Doyle, which played a vital role during the Battle of Normandy.  We discovered a fascinating article from the Hammond Times dated July 25th, 1944, highlighting his remarkable contribution to D-Day!
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I was just 12 years old when I started tagging along with my dad and his German students from Westmont High School (Westmont, Illinois) on their trips to Europe.  Traveling with him has always meant adventure, belly laughs (no one laughs quite as enthusiastically as my dad!), endless card games, great conversations - and his uncanny availability to bump into someone he knows, no matter where we are!

If you - or someone you know -  have a personal connection to Normandy or WWII, and have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to experience this historic region (and maybe take your first European river cruise?), we'd love for you to join us!

📅 April 2–9, 2026 Paris & Normandy Wine Cruise 
🛳️ With AmaWaterways aboard the AmaLyra 

Host: Christine Potthoff
Travel Advisor & Owner
travel beCAUSE, LLC

Host:  Jim Rendel
Christine's dad
Retired WHS German Teacher

Honoring: Donald T Rendel
Jim's dad & Christine's grandpa
MC, USNR
travel beCAUSE will make a $100 donation for every stateroom
booked in our group to Operation Support Our Troops - America!​

Celebrating Easter together on the Seine.
Learning from our exclusive Wine Cruise Host.
Experiencing Normandy–finally–together.
This isn't just a river cruise. It's a story you'll never forget!

Even more reasons that our adventure will be extraordinary...

  • We'll be celebrating our ​Easter holiday onboard the AmaLyra on Sunday, April 5th
  • This is also an Exclusive Wine Cruise hosted by the owners of Structure Cellars out of Seattle
  • New to European river cruising? You'll have a single point of contact for guidance & questions from start to finish
  • We'll host exclusive events for our group onboard & off
  • Want more time  in Paris - or ready for a multi-stop European vacation? travel beCAUSE can handle every detail - transportation, accommodations, activities, and more