Gottlieb’s feedback got here sooner or later after Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stated the state sued the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, demanding the general public well being company enable cruise traces to instantly resume crusing from the U.S. ports.

Gottlieb, who co-chaired an advisory panel for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and Royal Caribbean, stated on “Squawk Field” the businesses have smart insurance policies in place in preparation for after they’re allowed to start working after a Covid pause that is lasted greater than a yr.

“They’ve dedicated to issues like obligatory testing of passengers. Norwegian Cruise Line got here out lately saying they will require vaccination of all their passengers,” stated Gottlieb, who served as Meals and Drug Administration commissioner from 2017 to 2019 within the Trump administration.

Gottlieb additionally famous that social distancing can be doable on the ships, saying “these cruises should not going to function at full capability.”

“As you begin to implement all these public well being suggestions … you begin to create an atmosphere that may very well be fairly protected,” he contended. “I consider you possibly can create a protected bubble round that have, particularly whenever you’re evaluating it to different trip experiences the place you possibly can’t management the atmosphere,” he added.

Cruise ships have been scorching spots for Covid outbreaks final yr within the early days of the worldwide well being disaster, prompting the CDC to difficulty its no-sail order in mid-March 2020. Whereas the CDC has issued some steerage for cruise traces beneath its conditional crusing order, the company has but to specify a date for operators to renew crusing from U.S. ports.

In response to CNBC’s request for touch upon Gottlieb’s remarks, the CDC stated by way of electronic mail that it is “dedicated to working with the cruise business and seaport companions to renew cruising following the phased method outlined within the conditional crusing order. This aim aligns with the will for resumption of passenger operations in the US expressed by many main cruise ship operators and vacationers, hopefully by mid-summer.”

Nevertheless, the cruise business is rising impatient, after firms raised billions in debt and issued new inventory to fund operations whereas crusing revenues dried up. Late final month, a commerce group referred to as on the CDC to allow a phased-in restart in early July. Operators have stated they’re seeing robust reserving demand, suggesting persons are beginning to really feel comfy to return to cruises.

In a CNBC interview Wednesday, Carnival CEO Arnold Donald pointed to variations between restrictions in America and different nations internationally, the place cruises have resumed in some locations.

“An individual right now can fly from the U.S. to a different nation. Get on a cruise ship, after which come again to the U.S. whether or not they’re vaccinated or not,” Donald stated on “Closing Bell.” “However right here within the U.S., even should you’re vaccinated, at this level, you could not get on a cruise ship.”

Donald complimented the Biden administration for its work on Covid vaccination distribution within the U.S., the place roughly 20% of the inhabitants is absolutely vaccinated. He stated he believes the cruise business and CDC will be capable of collectively attain an settlement on crusing.

“The administration has made large progress with vaccinations and getting command of this factor,” Donald stated. “We’re assured we will work collectively and arrive at one thing that might be a workable answer and hopefully we now have sailings from the U.S. but this summer season.”

Royal Caribbean CEO Richard Fain informed “CBS This Morning” on Thursday that he would love the cruise business to be “handled in a really related method to the airways,” which have been allowed to fly. Nevertheless, Fain is optimistic concerning the doable resumption of U.S. sailings within the second half of this yr, citing President Joe Biden’s aim for society to return to a semblance of regular by July 4.

— CNBC’s Katie Tsai contributed to this report.