I went to the Caribbean for the first time during a cruise. I wish I'd had more time in these 2 ports.

Business Insider's reporter took a Caribbean cruise for the first time and wished for a longer stay in Honduras and Mexico.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider My first cruise to the Caribbean stopped at four ports.

With around seven hours to explore each stop, I only got a small taste of the destinations.

Two of them have been added to my travel bucket list for a return visit.

To me, taking a cruise is like watching previews at the movies — you can get an idea of each coming film's plot, aesthetic, and overall vibe, but you'll have to return to the theater to get the full story.

I decided this on my first cruise back in 2022.

The seven-night voyage aboard Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas stopped at four ports: Roatan, Honduras; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; and Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay .

Passengers had about seven hours to explore at each stop.

For me, it was only enough time to get a small taste of each place, and the first two ports left me wishing I'd had more time to explore.

Here's how I spent my hours in Roatan, Honduras, and Cozumel, Mexico.

The first port stop was Roatan, where I booked a nature excursion.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider Roatan is an island off the coast of Honduras, surrounded by one of the largest barrier reefs in the world.

I spent my day there on an excursion I booked through Royal Caribbean.

We went to Mayan Eden Eco-Park, a nature preserve with hiking trails and wildlife.