Villa Orfeus is a peculiar old house that has become a treasure for the neighborhood's residents. It is a sanctuary where the house's residents are allowed to be different, to be themselves in an alienated world. Lydia Wiljengren (Ellen Gottschalch), the widow of a wealthy music dealer, owns Villa Orfeus. She has gradually squandered her entire fortune on her fondness for musical people. The only condition for living in the house is that they can either play an instrument or sing.

At the behest of their boss, London private detective Charly Biff and his assistant Ingrid are supposed to relax on a cruise along the Adriatic coast. Even before the ship sets sail, Charly gets on the trail of drug smugglers in the port of Portoroz. He soon finds out that they want to transport "snow" on the vacation steamer to Italy and sell it there. And while the other passengers enjoy themselves - and some even discover love - Charly follows the crooks' trail.