shipping / boat trip
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shipping
All traffic of ships on bodies of water for transporting people or goods; also considered as an economic sector.
Die Binnenschifffahrt auf dem Rhein ist für die deutsche Wirtschaft sehr wichtig.
Inland shipping on the Rhine is very important for the German economy.
'Schifffahrt' (shipping / boat trip) is a compound noun made from 'das Schiff' (ship) and 'die Fahrt' (journey/trip). The '-s-' in the middle is a linking -s that connects the two words. Literally, it therefore means 'trip by ship'.
Die Fahrt mit dem Schiff war sehr entspannend.
The trip by ship was very relaxing.
A distinction is made between general 'Schifffahrt' (shipping: traffic, economic sector) and a specific journey. When you say 'eine Schifffahrt machen' (to take a boat trip) or 'eine Schifffahrt buchen' (to book a boat trip), it always means a single tour.
Wegen des Hochwassers wurde die Schifffahrt auf dem Fluss eingestellt.
Because of the flooding, shipping on the river was suspended.
To specify the type of shipping, compound words are often used. The most important ones are 'Binnenschifffahrt' (inland shipping, on rivers and canals) and 'Seeschifffahrt' (maritime shipping, at sea).
Die Seeschifffahrt ist für den globalen Handel unverzichtbar.
Maritime shipping is essential for global trade.
cruise
'Kreuzfahrt' and 'Schifffahrt' both have to do with travel or traffic on water. A 'Kreuzfahrt' is a vacation trip on a large ship during which you visit several places or ports. 'Schifffahrt' is more general: it can mean all traffic by ship, including transport and the economy, or a single trip by ship or boat. They can be confused because both are connected with ships. When it is about a vacation with several stops, 'Kreuzfahrt' is more precise. When it is generally about ships or a simple trip on the water, 'Schifffahrt' fits better.
Die Schifffahrt auf dem Rhein ist wegen des Nebels heute eingeschränkt.
Shipping on the Rhine is restricted today because of the fog.
Meine Eltern machen im Sommer eine Kreuzfahrt durchs Mittelmeer.
My parents are taking a cruise through the Mediterranean in the summer.