Cunard’s newest ship, the Queen Elizabeth was floated for the first time in the Italian port city of Trieste, in a ceremony paying homage to the ship’s predecessor, the QE2. The traditional smashing of the bubbly was conducted by Florence “Dennie” Farmer— widow of Willie Farmer, who was the chief engineer on both the QE2 and the original Queen Elizabeth.

Guests can expect a ballroom, several dining rooms, a bowling green and croquet lawn, gym, 830-seat theater, and the famed class and service of the cruise line’s two most famous ships. The ship departs on its maiden voyage on October 12, making a 13-night trip around the Mediterranean.

It’s early September as I arrive at the Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard in Trieste, Italy. Dawn is breaking and the winds are howling down from the mountains. Hundreds of yard workers, vendor specialists, technicians, and Silversea Cruises employees are gathered on the pier to board the Silver Spirit. There’s excitement in the air as Spirit is about to taken out for sea trials.

The majority of cruise passengers probably have never heard of sea trials. But, one thing is certain no cruise ship gets to sail with passengers without going through them.

Pushing the limits
Sea trials are the testing phase of a cruise ship to check the vessel’s performance and general seaworthiness. Over the four days of sea trials, Silver Spirit will undergo hundreds of tests that assess its speed, maneuverability, equipment and safety features.

It is a very unique and amazing atmosphere on the ship during sea trials and rarely are journalists allowed onboard to observe the process. As the vessel sails out from the pier, the bridge is bustling as the shipyard Captain and crew go over the ship’s state-of-the-art navigation and maneuvering systems. Two tug boats follow Silver Spirit during the first critical nautical miles from the shipyard. The ship is buffeted by heavy winds, but you wouldn’t know it; Spirit stays remarkably smooth.

Silver Spirit’s master, Captain Angelo Corsaro is onboard as an observer during the trials. Captain Corsaro has been with Silversea since the company’s beginning in 1994. He will take command on December 15 after delivery and is excited by the ship and impressed with the work being done by the shipyard. Christian Sauleau, executive vice president, fleet operations for Silversea Cruises echoes Captain Corsaro’s assessment of the ship and Fincantieri. “Great job, the team, shipyard.” The stakes are high for Silversea as Silver Spirit is their first new-build ship in six years. According to industry sources, the Silver Spirit costs a little over 400 million dollars or some $500,000 per berth. The delivery of Spirit will bring ultra-luxury line’s fleet to six making Silversea the world’s largest luxury cruise line.

The stakes are high for Fincantieri, too. The company has built 48 cruise ships in the past 20 years, but surprisingly, Silver Spirit is the first luxury cruise ship built there. Clearly, they hope it’s the beginning of many more luxury liner orders.

Testing continues as Spirit goes through a series of twists and turns, yes, it is doing virtual “donuts” in the Adriatic to test the ship’s stability and maneuverability. At high speeds the ship has minimal vibration. As the crew continues their testing it’s time to tour the rest of the ship.

Art deco rising

It’s surreal to walk around Silver Spirit with 500 yard workers onboard hammering, painting, testing, finishing – a far cry from the atmosphere the vessel’s 540-discriminating guests will experience in a mere few months. The ship is more finished than I anticipated – Sauleau tells me it’s around 65 percent completed – well ahead of schedule.

I am escorted to my accommodations for my two-night adventure – a standard Veranda Suite – albeit one with a cot, plastic covered carpet, and paper on the windows. While the suite is technically finished the furniture and luxury accoutrements have yet to be installed. I am informed that those items are the last to be installed. One really cool addition that will be in all suites is two 26-inch, flat-panel televisions (one in the bedroom, the other in the sitting area) both televisions will hide behind a mirror when not in use.

Even with plastic and plywood covering a number of areas the beauty of Silver Spirit’s Art Deco design shines through. The ship’s architect has incorporated a 1930s feel into a modern environment by marrying traditional Art Deco lines with the use of contemporary materials including granite along with intricate wood and metal panels.

While Silver Spirit’s design mirror’s the distinctive silhouette of their existing ships it offers some new enhancements. One of the most striking is the ship’s spa measuring 8,300 square feet with aft facing teak deck and whirlpools. There are also nine treatment rooms, multiple sauna and steam rooms, heated loungers, fitness center with two aerobic studios, weight-training equipment and a climbing wall. Other public spaces include a show lounge, observation lounge, conference room, casino and sports bar, a library, internet cafe, and duty free shops.

Silver Spirit boasts six dining venues that include some of the line’s regulars as well as two new eateries. The well-known offerings include the simply titled Restaurant – offering international breakfast, lunch and dinner menus by Relais & Châteaux, La Terrazza – a buffet style restaurant with ocean views, Le Champagne – a six-course experience in a romantic setting and the Pool Grill. In addition, the ship also has the Stars Supper Club that will offer supper accompanied with live music and dancing and, for an extra fee, guests will be able to dine in the Asian-inspired Seishin Restaurant.

After touring it was time for lunch alongside the shipyard workers – a sit down affair in the Restaurant venue where everyone was served pasta and wine. Not bad for virtually camping at sea.

Thrust buster
Over the course of the day and night, Silver Spirit goes through the paces. Test after test with rudders, thrusters, stabilizers, navigational equipment, communication equipment and a rescue boat drill. Speed is slowly increased then decreased all while being closely monitored to check for proper performance. Halfway through the sea trials a gauge shows a rise in temperature in one of the thrusters. Apparently there’s a faulty bearing and sea trials will have to be cut short to make repairs.

While the bearing issue puts a dent in the sea trials it’s the perfect example of why they are necessary. As Vittorio Facco, technical director responsible for new building for V. Ships Leisure S.A.M., told me a complex system like thrusters cannot be tested at the yard — the vessel must be at sea to check performance.

A few weeks after the initial September sea trials and the thruster bearing being replaced, Silver Spirit set out to sea again to complete the rest of its tests. “It exceeded our expectations,” said Sauleau. He told me during the third day of the sea trials, the ship experienced very rough seas with winds up to 40 knots (Force 7) with swells up to 14 feet. “In those conditions the ship was able to maintain a speed of 19.5 knots. It was very steady in the water with no vibration recorded at maximum speed and full power.”

As for the rest of the ship the outfitting of the interior is progressing very well and Silver Spirit is on schedule for its expected December 15 delivery date.

When Silver Spirit launches in December the butlers onboard will offer a number of new services for all guests. The new amenities include: Upgraded pillow menu with a selection of nine pillows along with a choice of pillow covers including silk and Egyptian cotton.

Guests will be able to have their travel-battered luggage washed down and returned clean, refreshed and wrapped with a special Silversea ribbon.

Eyeglass and sunglasses with be auto cleaned by the butler with a chamois cloth.

Butlers will now give their guests a personalized tour of the ship.

Butlers will now provide a room aromatherapy menu of three exclusive room scents by Laura Tonatto.

In the Grand and Owner’s Suites, butlers will provide guests with a bath menu and additional room scenting options.

On another note Silversea will be changing its toiletry selections. The line will continue to carry Bvlgari, but will replace Acqua di Parma with Ferragamo and Neutrogena with another yet-to-be-named brand. Additionally, Silversea will be upgrading its chocolate selections from Godiva to world-renowned chocolatier Pierre Marcolini.

All accommodations on Silversea are suites, but Silver Spirit’s suites are the largest in the fleet. The 270 ocean-view suites range in size from 312 to 1,668 square feet with 95 percent of the suites featuring private teak balconies.

12 Vista Suites ~ 312 sq. ft.

50 Veranda Suites ~ 376 sq. ft.(veranda: 65 sq. ft)

166 Midship Veranda Suites ~ 376 sq. ft (veranda: 65 sq. ft.)

26 Silver Suites ~ 742 sq. ft. / 69 m2 (veranda: 118 sq. ft. / 11 m2)

6 Grand Suites ~ 990 sq. ft. (veranda: 125 sq. ft.) for one bedroom; 1,302 sq. ft.(veranda: 190 sq. ft.) for two bedrooms

2 Owner’s Suites ~ 1,292 sq. ft. (veranda: 190 sq. ft.) for one bedroom; 1,668 sq. ft.(veranda: 190 sq. ft.) for two bedrooms

Suite Amenities include: butler service, convertible twin-to-queen beds, walk-in wardrobe and full-length mirror, sitting area with writing desk, dressing table with hair dryer, choice of pillow, plush robes and slippers, Italian marble bathroom with choice of Bvlgari and Ferragamo bath amenities, full bath and separate shower, refrigerated beverage cabinet stocked to your preference, 2 remote-controlled flat screen televisions with DVD and satellite reception, 3 direct-dial telephones, iPod docking station, Wi-Fi and cellular service, personal safe, 110/220 electric current, Pommery Champagne upon arrival, fresh fruit and flowers. Silver Suites feature 3-CD stereo system. Grand and Owner’s Suites feature a guest powder room, full-size Jacuzzi, 3-CD Bang Oleufsen stereo system, 2 free hours of in-suite worldwide phone use, 2 free hours of Internet service, complimentary laundry, dry cleaning and early embarkation.