We had the exact dilemma planning our recently completed Christmas Market cruise on Avalon. Our first cruise years ago was in a Panorama Suite with the French Balcony. That cruise was also a Christmas Markets cruise, and we opened the French doors twice in 5 days.
This cruise we saved money and went with the lower deck / small windows and are glad we did. As earlier posts have suggested, there are plenty of places to look outside, including our favorite place on the ship: the Club Lounge in the aft. IMO: save your money!