Greetings from the Emerald Princess as she cuts through the Atlantic Ocean at a steady eighteen knots on her way to Boston and points north.  As I write this, we are about seventy miles off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia.

I find myself on this stunning ship because my wife Leela and I wanted to take my sister Janice and her husband David on a fourteen-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Quebec City.  The main reason being so we could visit family and friends both in Boston, as well as Sydney, Nova Scotia.

Both my sister and I were born in Dorchester, and for us, Boston will always be home.  Like many families in the Boston area, ours made its way there from Nova Scotia.

And, with regard to those from Boston and the greater New England area, do I have great news for you if you love cruising, or simply want to be pampered for a week or more.  Starting next month, this spectacular ship will be homeporting in Boston for the rest of the summer and early fall as it travels to Canada with stops in Maine and even Greenland.

Trust me when I say that you will want to book a cabin as soon as possible as this ship with those itineraries will sell out fast.  Why?

Because what I discovered years ago is that if one wants to visit multiple coastal cities, there is no better way to do so than on a cruise ship.  So, for me, there was no better way to go than boarding the Emerald Princess and letting what equates to a five-star hotel with a first-class staff take us up the east coast of the United States and Canada in a bubble of luxury, entertainment, and safety.

One of the great things about the cruise industry is that there is basically a ship for every taste.  When she was first built, the Emerald Princess was one of the largest cruise ships in the world.  Now, not too many years later, there are “Mega Cruise Ships” which have eclipsed her.

As one who has taken about one hundred cruises over the years and knows the business well, I respect everyone’s taste in cruise ships.  That said, I am much more a fan of ships the size of the Emerald Princess.  While not a “Mega Ship” she is still very large with a gross tonnage of 113,000; a length of 951 feet (over three football fields); and 19 decks.

Even at her very large size, at full capacity, she still only carries about 3,000 passengers with a crew of 1,200.  When you contrast that with some of the “Mega Ships” out there not dramatically longer, wider, or higher but carrying upwards of 7,000 passengers and a crew of 3,000, you might agree the Emerald Princess is the Goldilocks “just right” size for you and your family.

And trust me, the Emerald Princess is built for multigenerational families with multiple venues and activities onboard for any generation.  From three years of age to seasoned adults, this ship has you and your family covered.

From the moment you step aboard, you will be greeted with an abundance of pampering options.  As for food, you will find fresh restaurant choices and dining options; revitalized top deck venues like Salty Dog Grill, Slice Pizzeria and Coffee & Cones to brand new casual restaurants Steamers Seafood and Planks BBQ; specialty restaurants; to an all included buffet at the World Fresh Market Place up on Deck 15.

As for the kids, they can play, explore, huddle, and create at the newly re-imagined Camp Discovery Youth & Teen Centers.  And while they do you can unwind at the refreshed Sanctuary, a tranquil haven reserved for adults.

As for accommodations, the Emerald Princess has everything to fit any budget as well as any indulgence from incredibly comfortable interior cabins to luxurious suites.  And no matter what accommodation you choose, Princess has collaborated with a board-certified sleep expert to create the ultimate in blissful comfort.  Their luxurious new beds feature a scientifically engineered mattress and bed springs, a plush two-inch pillow top, European-inspired duvets and 100% luxurious Jacquard-woven linens-to ensure that at the end of your voyage, you come home feeling refreshed and renewed.

But before you get home, you will be experiencing original musicals, dazzling magic shows, feature films, headliners — such as Stephanie Hodgdon — top comedians, swinging nightclubs, a world class spa and exercise facility, and a casino that is one of the most impressive at sea.

As a fully paying passenger who has been on the Emerald Princess for the last five days and does believe this is the best and most economical way to travel, I am here to tell you that this Princess is coming to Boston and she is ready to give you and your family the royal treatment.

Douglas MacKinnon is a former White House and Pentagon official.   

The Emerald Princess is in Boston for the long stay. (Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)