Space is not completely empty. Laced throughout the near-vacuum are occasional atoms and molecules of various types, many of which are useful to travelers far from civilization. Many fleets include at least one molecular ram-scoop to collect such molecules for use. Many capital ships include a small ram-scoop on their prow to collect useful materials, but occasionally ships are purpose built to scoop out large swaths of interstellar material. For example, there are several nebulae that contain large quantities of alcohol, and a number of entrepreneurs ply these regions in purpose-built ram-scoop ships collecting it as a rare and expensive luxury good. Many generation-fleets include a scoop-ship as well, in order to add a small amount of useful supplies for the long journey between the stars.
The Lucky Ace
The Lucky Ace was a distillery ship that cruised through nebulae in search of alcohol and other valuable chemicals. The large scoop on the front of the ship was used for gathering the chemicals, similar in operation to a Bussard ramjet, but it wasn't used for propulsion. The ship's visitor's section (consisting of the large pod at the bottom of the image) included a casino, a hotel, and a bar where visitors could sample the alcohol the ship was gathering.
The Neon Dream cruise ship was destroyed during a cruise when it collided with the Lucky Ace. The Tardigrades responded quickly and saved many lives. The Lucky Ace (true to its name) survived the collision with only minor damage.
