I booked a 7-day Alaska cruise for $799 but actually spent $2,800 with extras. Take a closer look at what made it so pricey.

The author in a hot tub onboard the Royal Princess.Allison Tibaldi

• This summer, I thought I got a great deal when I booked a 7-day Alaska cruise for $799 per person.
• I ended up spending $2,800 with excursions, Wi-Fi, a drink package, port fees, and specialty dining.

I'm an experienced cruiser who has sailed around the globe.

So I was excited to take my husband on his first cruise last summer to celebrate his birthday.

We chose a seven-day Princess Cruise to Alaska in and out of Seattle on the Royal Princess. The mid-size ship would visit the Inside Passage with a day cruising in Glacier Bay National Park, two full days at sea, and stops in Alaska at Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and also Victoria, Canada.

I had cruised with Princess before and liked how they offer a sweet spot between casual and luxury. It was also the first time either of us was visiting Alaska, and since seven Princess ships sail there, I felt confident that they were experts in cruising America's last frontier.

The base price for the cruise was $799 per person, which included an interior stateroom, all meals not served in specialty restaurants, and entertainment.

I thought that was a cheap price, but as an experienced cruiser, I knew there would be extras, such as Wi-Fi, beverages, excursions, and upscale dining.

In the end, I spent just over $2,800 per person, which was $2,000 more than the base price. While it wasn't exactly the cheap deal I originally booked, I thought the price was well worth it considering the fabulous trip we had.

Here's a closer look at how we spent our money.