EGYPT: Share a Candlelit Dinner in a Pharaoh's Tomb

The circuit: Around the world—Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, to New York City

Boat basics: Silversea's 382-passenger Silver Shadow offers up all the finery of a five-star hotel: fine linens, sparkling crystal, marble bathrooms, and cabins with more square footage than most Manhattan apartments.

Shore thing: Lots of ships sail to Egypt to see the Pyramids, but this round-the-world splurge includes a tour with esteemed Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, secretary general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities (now that's a title!). Hawass dishes dirt on the onetime residents in the Valley of the Nobles as he shows you the Ramoza Tomb and those of Seti I and Nefertari. Guests also spend time at the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens. Then the secretary hosts a black-tie dinner at the Habu Temple on the west bank of the Nile. You'll enter to the sounds of Verdi's Aida, then enjoy fine wine, Egyptian delicacies such as lemon-flavored lamb with pistachio couscous, and dancing in the temple dedicated to Ramses. History in high school was never like this.

The details: The 126-night World Cruise departs January 15, 2007.
From $56,884 per person

Silversea
Tel: 877 760 9052