You are in England and traveling back to America; on boat, over sea. This story is set in the late 1,800's. 
Though you come from a family, who are pretty well off for this century, the crew of this ship are working for their lives. Many of them have no proper intentions nor do they possess decent morals for that matter, although the captain of the ship, Captain Jagery. He is more in touch with the "Real world" and being more of an order giver than really sailing his own ship.