The luxury liner, the S.S. American is off to England. Aboard her are shortsighted millionaire tycoon Eli Whitney, the debutante Hope Harcourt, her fiance Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, and her mother Evangeline Harcourt. Also aboard is wanted gangster Moonface Martin and Erma, the girlfriend of Snake Eyes Johnson. But nothing is as it seems. To complete the passenger list there's Reno Sweeney, an evangelist and big nightclub star and stowaway Billy Crocker. Billy is in love with Hope, so he stows away to win her from Lord Evelyn if he can. Add the FBI, some daffy disguises, a couple of Chinese gamblers, passengers hungry for celebrities and the stage is set for surprises and romance.