We got hooked when we had the aft balcony on the Triumph......We just loved it, not noisy at all and very calm.
We have a balcony on the upcoming cruise on the Miracle.........It is an aft also.
We are one of the few that does use the balcony. We use it in the morning after we shower we get room service and sit outside in our Carnival bathrobes and enjoy the fresh air. We always sit out there at night after we come back to the cabin and have a drink and just listen to the water and watch the wake so, for us it is worth it.........