In the sailors' pub "Die Königin von Honolulu" in Hamburg's St. Pauli district in 1910, the sailors are sitting grumpily and pestering their wages master, Krischon Honolulu, to finally get them a ship, as their coffers are at low tide. Then the sailor Scharli appears and reports that an American luxury yacht has arrived, owned by the millionaire William Thomson, a "madman" and misogynist who throws his money around. Eight sailors are wanted for a voyage around the world, including to Honolulu.
