Will be doing our 16th cruise in 3 weeks time around NZ on Radiance of the seas, we did the Honolulu- Sydney on Celebrity Century in Nov 2011 and had a balcony as there were fair few SEA days, like other people have said if you can afford the balcony go for it as you can pass the time away dreaming etc of your next cruise, have a nice chilled GLASS or whatever with a nice platter and your in a world of your own, 2 years ago we had a great cruise thru the Panama Canal had a balcony there also, THAT is a cruise all cruise'ers should do( not being cleaver when I say that)it is a cruise beyond belief will never forget it till the day i fall off the perch. By the sounds of you post you have caught the bug ( Cruising ) hope you dont get rid of it ENJOY every min.