OSCEOLA, WI (WTAQ) - A northwest Wisconsin native picked the wrong time to go on a cruise with his wife.

Osceola native John Bjornstad and his wife Angela were celebrating their 10th anniversary aboard a Carnival cruise ship last week, when an engine room fire cut off electricity while the boat was in the Gulf of Mexico.

The 900 foot boat Triumph was on its way to Cozumel Mexico. Instead, the disabled ship had to wait to be towed to Mobile Alabama. And in the meantime, Bjornstad tells the St. Paul Pioneer Press that things got “nasty” as toilets overflowed in people’s rooms – and many were forced to sleep outside.

After five days on the water, the boat finally arrived in Mobile last Thursday night, and the couple was back home on Friday.

Bjornstad said he and his wife were lucky that their room didn’t flood. And he does not fault

Carnival, saying the crew took care of everyone as best they could – and accidents happen. Bjornstad now lives in Texas. He went to work for BP after graduating from UW-Stout.