Fog has narrowly lost the bet and, with it, most of what remains of his fortune after all the expenses incurred on the trip. But, then, Romy asks him to marry her; Fog accepts and, while Rigodon and Tico are taking care of the arrangements, they learn that, having failed to account for crossing the International Date Line, they believe it to be a day later than it actually is. There follows a race against time to reach the Reform Club before the deadline actually expires.
Having just missed the ship in which they had planned to sail home, the travellers book passage on the Henrietta, a cargo ship bound for Bordeaux, even though, by not sailing directly to England, they risk missing their deadline. But, when the ship's captain, Andrew Speedy, falls victim to one of Transfer's traps and needs medical attention, he orders Fog to head for the nearest port. As luck would have, the nearest port is Liverpool, Fog's intended destination.
The train is attacked by American Indians, but Fog, Rigodon, Dix and Bully manage to drive them off. Shortly afterwards, however, Transfer (disguised as one of the Indians) attacks the train's driver and stoker, sending the train careering out of control. Rigodon and Tico, sent to investigate, end up being captured by Indians and, though the train is eventually brought back under control, Fog is not prepared to continue travelling without them.
Transfer sets fire to the General Grant's sails, forcing the ship to dock in Mexico while repairs are carried out. Shortly afterwards, a hot-air balloon crashes into the ship and Fog (who must cover more than 400 miles in one day) buys it from the pilot. But, as the travellers prepare to take off, Dix (who has a plan to gain Fog's confidence) and Bully hitch a ride.
Fog and his party are sailing across the Pacific for San Francisco on the steamship General Grant. When they are forced to make an unscheduled stop in Hawaii, the travellers learn that an island princess is dangerously ill. Romy volunteers to try and save the princess, but the travellers will all be killed if her attempts fail.
Drugged by Transfer, Rigodon and Tico awaken to find themselves on the steamship Carnatic, at the mercy of the master of disguise, who is impersonating the ship's stoker. Meanwhile, left behind in Hong Kong, Fog and Romy search for another ship to take them to Japan, in addition to searching for their missing companions.
Learning that her uncle and aunt have died, a grief-stricken Romy agrees to travel to England with Fog and his party. Meanwhile, since Hong Kong is the last outpost of the British Empire Fog will pass through before returning to England, Dix is determined to detain him as long as possible and tries to enlist Rigodon's help to do so. Then, to further complicate matters, Transfer diguises himself as Dix.
Fog and his party learn that the railway linking Bombay and Calcutta is still under construction, forcing them to trek through the jungle to Allahabad. Transfer quickly takes advantage of the situation and, posing as a local guide, starts leading Fog and his party into the jungle on a stolen elephant.
As Fog, Rigodon and Tico begin their journey, Mr Sullivan (one of the four who bet against Fog) hires a cunning master of disguise known as Transfer to sabotage the expedition. Meanwhile, Inspector Dix and Constable Bully of Scotland Yard discover that Fog matches the description of the suspect in a recent robbery at the Bank of England and are sent to trail him.
Willy Fog hires Rigodon, a former circus performer, to replace the butler he dismissed the previous day and, unknowingly, hires Rigodon's friend, Tico, at the same time. Later, Fog tells his fellows at London's Reform Club that he has read an article which suggests one can travel around the world in eighty days. To prove to his skeptical colleagues that this is possible, he wagers half his £40,000 fortune that he can make the journey.