Man that sucks, waking up at 2am on the hard ground is the worst. I had the same thing happen on a trip in the Guads a couple years back and it ruined my sleep for two nights straight. What worked for me was folding the pad in half under my torso and using my empty backpack under my legs, it kept me off the dirt at least. Foam pads are bombproof but they're bulky and not that comfy, so it's a trade off you gotta weigh for yourself. If you go foam, the accordion style ones strap to the outside of your pack easy. Either way, throw a patch kit and a tiny bottle of cement in your bag from now on, it weighs nothing and saves the trip.

Come on, the balcony isn't just about sitting out there in the cold. You get floor to ceiling glass, way more natural light, you can watch the coast go by from bed with your coffee, and on glacier day you don't have to fight for a spot on the rail with 200 other people. Plus an interior cabin means zero clue what time it is, no sunrise, no sunset, just a dark box with bunks. If she's the type who likes to nap or read with a view, that $1,900 might've been worth every penny to her even if she only stepped outside twice.