Stranded Carnival Cruise Ship Conditions 'Getting Worse by the Hour'

The vacation from hell has apparently gotten even worse. Conditions on the fire-damaged Carnival Triumph cruise ship adrift in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico are "getting worse by the hour," ABC News reported.

The ship has been stranded without propulsion since a fire broke out Sunday morning, according to the Associated Press. The fire was luckily extinguished by an automated system, but not in time to save the ship's power. The Triumph is now relying on a back-up generator with no power, the Coast Guard said.

Passengers have reported quickly worsening conditions aboard the ship, such as no air conditioning, scarce supplies of running water, limited access to bathrooms, and long lines for little food. As no power, means no refrigeration, the stench on board is also reportedly almost unbearable, and is causing many passengers to sleep on in tents on the ship's deck, passenger Shelly Crosby told ABC News in a text message.

"Cabin carpets are wet with urine and water. Toilets are overflowing inside cabins. We are having to sleep in the hallways. Onion and cucumber sandwich last night," wrote passenger Debra Rightmire in a text message to ABC News. 

"We stood in line for four hours to get a hamburger," Crosby said by text message.

Officials had originally intended to haul the ship to Progreso, Mexico, but those plans were abandoned, Carnival said, since the the ship has now drifter 90 miles north due to strong currents. The 4,200 passengers on board will now be towed to Mobile, Ala., where the ship is currently about 270 miles away from. The ship will be pulled by two tug boats. Weather permitting, the triumph is expected to arrive Thursday, Coast Guard Petty Officers Richard Brahm said, the Associated Press reported.

Other Carnival cruise ships in the area are dropping off supplies, and there's also a 210-foot Coast Guard close by, the Associated Press reported.

"If they do need any help, we're there," Brahm said. "But that's kind of it, to make sure everything is OK."

Carnival has since acknowledged the issues, but claims there's still enough food and water on the ship, and that it's currently working to fix the sanitation problems.

"All of our guests are safe, and we're doing everything we can to make them as comfortable as possible," said Gerry Cahill, president and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines, in a statement Monday night.