Annette Duvall and her daughter, Heather, are an accomplished bunko team. Heather plans to lure a wealthy man into a "stacked" card game with her mother. But complications arise when the intended dupe, young and very rich Wellington Davis Rothmeyer IV, falls for Heather -- and she for him -- at the same time her mother is trying to bilk him.
Meanwhile, Julie has hired has-been comedian Arthur Burkley to play Santa Claus during the voyage. Burkley fails to show up at several appearances, and Julie finally learns how low his fortunes have fallen in recent years. He even considers tossing himself overboard, and only Julie can hope to save him.
At the same time, Carla Lucci and David Morgan are reunited on the cruise after a separation of eleven years. Carla's hopes for a reconciliation are dashed when David implies he is still married. But later she discovers he is hiding some scandalous truth that he thinks will stand in the way of their happiness.
