I just got off the Seabourn Legend a week ago. The whole balcony thing doesn't bother me because I like to be up on deck at the Sky Bar socialzing. However, Chester likes to sit in the cabin and read. He doesn't mind the french balconies at all. He says he prefers sitting on the couch reading with the doors open, it turns your whole cabin into a balcony. He would rather lounge on the couch than sit on a plastic chair on a balcony. I love having the doors open too. We keep them open the whole time we are on the cruise.
The ships were recently refurbished. They now have flat screen T.V.s up high instead of down on the floor. They are much easier to watch.