That’s where river cruises — a popular and growing segment of the industry — come in. “You literally dock in the heart of cities,” said Colleen McDaniel, editor in chief of Cruise Critic.

Domestic river cruises give travelers an opportunity to explore America without the hassle of international travel. Travelers can choose from a range of itineraries from coast to coast.

It’s hard to classify Ireland’s longest river as a hidden gem. But, I was ignorant to the Shannon’s abundance of attractions, activities, and adventures. So we traded the road for a weekend ...