The crew of Marine Atlantic's newest ferry getting are ready for sea trials in preparation for a spring launch.

The Atlantic Vision has been docked in North Sydney, N.S., since December and is scheduled to hit the seas of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence on the North Sydney-to-Port aux Basque route in April.

Captain Paul MacDonald said the new passenger and cargo ferry has a "cruise ship feel."

"The restaurant, the buffet and the cabins offer a little more of an upscale experience," MacDonald said.

With nearly 200 cabins, compared to about 40 on other ferries in the Marine Atlantic fleet, and features such as an internet kiosk and a special eating area for long-haul truck drivers, the Atlantic Vision is being described as a step up for travellers on the gulf crossing.

The super-sized ferry can carry 531 vehicles, twice as many as other ferries on the route and can travel about six knots faster than either the Caribou or the Joseph and Clara Smallwood.

"So you're going to take what is a five-and-a-half-hour trip and possibly turn it into a four-and-a-half-hour trip," he said.

Marine Atlantic has been criticized for passenger delays on both of its Newfoundland to Nova Scotia crossings, especially during peak tourism summer months.

MacDonald said the increased vehicle capacity and high speeds should reduce long wait times and backlogs for truckers on both sides of the gulf.

The Atlantic Vision crew have been getting acquainted with the high-tech European-built ferry since it arrived in Cape Breton from Finland in December and MacDonald said they are now ready to put it through its paces on the open water.