What would you be willing to pay additional for?

There is a very interesting discussion going on in some of the cruise blogs I frequent when I'm looking to book or have already booked a cruise. The one I'm talking about deals with what you're willing to pay for to be included in your cruise price. If you've cruised before, you know what I'm talking about. The prices for cruising have almost stayed the same as they were 20+ years ago, albeit the category of cabin you can get for the money. 20+ years ago you weren't going to find balcony cabins at any price. And what has changed for most lines except for one is that there is no longer a class system, what I'm saying is that everyone is going to eat the same food in the same dining rooms, use the same pools, and entertainment venues, etc except in the case of Cunard (which is linked above in "one").

Generally there are the following categories of cabins (and multiple levels within the levels usually):

Inside cabin

Outside cabin (window/porthole)

Balcony

Mini Suite

Suite

Penthouse or better

All these categories visit the same ports of call, use the same pools, see the same entertainment, eat the same food in the same venues (mostly unless they choose to eat at a premium dining venue in which case all categories pay additional to eat there).

Different categories may be located in different parts of the ship, may sit above or below an entertainment venue or dining facility, depending on the location, a cabin may be noisy or in rough seas may toss and pitch more than another location.

Some categories will have priority embarkation, debarkation, dining/table priority (getting the dining time or size of table they'd like to dine at which can be 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 people to a table). The higher the category of cabin the more space your cabin or bathroom and verandah may have. Your category may include a butler or concierge to help make spa appointments, have your favorite bottle of wine waiting when you get to your table for dinner, etc. You may have all your laundry and dry cleaning included with your cabin category, you may get more to choose from in room service, or have a concierge lounge to pick up specialty coffees and snacks throughout the day/evening.

Most cruise lines do not include soft drinks, or alcoholic beverages as part of your cruise price.

What would you need in order to be fully satisfied with a cruise vacation?

Here is what you have to work with: 2 adults (no children), $10,000 annually to cruise (includes airfare).

Would you rather stay in a less expensive cabin category and cruise more often or go for the gusto and cruise less often?

My take......I've been in almost all categories of cabins from the tiny inside that we tried our best to only sleep and shower in, to the slightly but not much bigger outside with a small port hole to the more luxurious suites which I have to say I prefer at this stage in my life. When we were paying for 4 the really nice digs were out of the question.
Now at this stage we like our cabin and verandah, we like to sit and watch the world, listen to the sounds of quiet and see it all without other people around. I try my best to cruise at least 2x a year, sometimes I'm lucky enough to get 3 if I shop hard enough. Although I like my own verandah, I would definitely take an outside on Holland America's R or S Class ships - they have a good sized cabin, and bathroom and if you are fortunate enough to get a C category outside you will have direct access to a public verandah that is tops in the industry. The cabin itself needs to be close to 200 sq ft or it's not for me.