Unfortunate couple marry on stranded Carnival Triumph cruise ship

A couple's dream wedding turned into a nightmare honeymoon where their cruise ship became stranded in the Gulf of Mexico.

Rob Mowlam, 37, and Stephanie Stephenson, 27, of Texas, US, got married on Carnival Triumph on Saturday. The four-day cruise was supposed to be back to shore on Monday, but an engine fire on Sunday left the ship stranded.

ABC News reports that it is now slowly being towed to shore and is expected to dock in the city of Mobile in Alabama on Thursday, if weather permits.

The cruise liner is without air conditioning, many working toilets and some restaurant service.

Many passengers, who are sleeping in tents on deck, told ABC News the smell of the ship is foul.

The Daily Mail reports that newlyweds Rob and Stephanie, along with 4,200 other passengers, are stuck on the ship surrounded by carpets soaked in urine due to overflowing toilets.

Rob's brother James Mowlam III said: 'It would be my guess that this would probably not be on anyone's great list of memorable wedding experiences.

'Although, my mum told him that she was hoping they had a memorable wedding and I think this would classify as a memorable wedding experience.'

The bride's brother Justin Davis told ABC News: 'She might be a little aggravated at the situation, but I'd say she's [probably] handling it really well.'

The head of Carnival Cruise Lines said the British-US-owned firm was working hard to ensure passengers were as comfortable as possible while the vessel was towed to the port.

'I need to apologise to our guests and to our families that have been affected by a very difficult situation,' Carnival Cruise Lines president and CEO Gerry Cahill said on Tuesday evening.

On Sunday, a fire erupted in the engine room of the cruise ship, knocking out its four engines. Triumph was left bobbing like a 100,000-tonne cork for more than a day and giant tugboats began towing the near-900-ft-long ship to land.

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