Royal Caribbean's 5,000-plus-passenger Oasis of the Seas ushered in a bold new era of megaships in 2010 with its 16 decks and 30-plus cabin categories — including the first loft suites at sea.

How do you choose a cabin on a ship this big? We broke down the Oasis of the Seas deck plan to find out exactly what each category means, what it offers, and how much square footage you’ll get. Here's everything you need to know about choosing a cabin on Oasis of the Seas.

Smaller Interior Stateroom — These cabins on decks 6-14 appeal to budget-minded cruisers. Most are 150 square feet, but the Q category cabins are only 140 square feet.

Interior Stateroom — At 172 square feet, these cabins on decks 3 and 6-12 are similar in size to Ocean View Staterooms — but with a mirror instead of a porthole.

Ocean View Stateroom — These 174-square-foot cabins are located forward on decks 3 and 7-11 and include a large porthole.

Central Park View Stateroom — These 194-square-foot cabins are located midship on deck 9 and overlook the treelined Central Park atrium.

Central Park View Stateroom with Balcony — The 50-square-foot balconies on these 182-square-foot cabins located midship on decks 10-14 also overlook Central Park and come with special EAT. DRINK. PLAY perks, such as dinner at Giovanni's Table and a bottle of red wine in your stateroom.

Boardwalk View Stateroom — You can check out all of the action on the Boardwalk from the bay windows in each of these 187-square-foot cabins located aft on deck 7. 

Boardwalk View Stateroom with Balcony — With a 47-square-foot balcony overlooking the Boardwalk, these 182-square-foot cabins aft on decks 8-14 come with EAT. DRINK. PLAY benefits, including a meal at Johnny Rockets and a soda package.

Promenade Stateroom — Like to people-watch? If so, consider one of these 193-square-foot cabins on deck 7. Each contains a bay window overlooking the Royal Promenade.

Superior Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony — These 182-square-foot cabins on decks 6-14 offer sea views from a 53-square-foot balcony. Choose forward or midship cabins for easy elevator access.

Junior Suite with Balcony — At 287 square feet with a 78-square-foot balcony, these midship staterooms on decks 6-14 sleep up to five and have Royal Suite Class benefits (as do all suites), including perks like butler service and complimentary dining in specialty restaurants.

Royal Family Suite with Balcony — Sleeping up to eight, these 589-square-foot suites on decks 10 and 12 midship include two bedrooms (a master and one with two twins and two Pullman beds) and a sleeper sofa, as well as a 237- to 246-square-foot balcony.

Grand Suite with Balcony — Location matters in these four-person suites. Those on deck 11 measure 398 square feet with a massive 452-square-foot balcony; those midship on decks 6-9 measure 371 square feet with a 114-square-foot balcony; and those on decks 12 and 14 are 323 square feet, but with 355- and 140-square-foot balconies, respectively.

Crown Loft Suite with Balcony — At 540 square feet (plus a 98-square-foot balcony), these loft-inspired suites on decks 17 and 18 have an upstairs bedroom, living room with sofa bed, and two bathrooms to accommodate up to four.

One-Bedroom AquaTheater Suite with Balcony — Located aft on decks 11, 12, and 14, these suites overlook the open-air amphitheater and sleep up to four in configurations from 323 to 398 square feet with balconies of 355 to 452 square feet, the largest on deck 11.

Owner’s Suite with Balcony — With a traditional side-by-side bedroom/living room layout, a bathroom with two sinks, and a 246-square-foot balcony, these 569-square-foot suites midship on decks 10, 11, and 14 are ideal for up to four guests who prefer one-level accommodations.

Two-Bedroom AquaTheater Suite with Balcony — The massive wraparound balconies on these two-bedroom, two-bath suites that sleep six have prime views of the open-air amphitheater. And we aren't kidding when we say the balconies are massive. Deck 8's suites are 820 square feet with an additional 803-square-foot balcony. Deck 9's suites are 720 square feet with a 716-square-foot balcony, and the deck 10 suites are 659 square feet with a 648-square-foot balcony.

Sky Loft Suite with Balcony — Two levels, two bathrooms (both with a large double shower), and a 376-square-foot balcony with dining area make these 724-square-foot suites midship on decks 17 and 18 a roomy haven for up to four people.

Grand Loft Suite with Balcony — Sleeping four, these two-level, 972-square-foot suites located on deck 17 midship have a master bedroom and bath and a 163-square-foot balcony with a hot tub.

Owner’s Loft Suite with Balcony — Up to four passengers can share this 1,250-sqare-foot suite, which has a master bedroom and bath, as well as a sofa bed and guest bath. The suite, located on deck 17, also has a 172-square-foot balcony with a hot tub.

Royal Loft Suite with Balcony — Panoramic windows, a baby grand piano, and an 874-square-foot balcony are some of the luxe touches in this midship duplex suite on decks 17 and 18. The 1,599 square feet includes two bedrooms and two bathrooms. There's also a sofa bed, meaning the cabin can sleep up to six.

Family Staterooms — Sleep a family of six in one cabin? You can with the ship's family staterooms, all of which have a king bed (convertible to two twins), a sleeper sofa, and two Pullman beds. Options include a Family Interior Stateroom (274 square feet), a Family Ocean View Stateroom (272 square feet), and an aft-located Family Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony (290 square feet with an 81-square-foot balcony).

Accessible Staterooms — Oasis of the Seas deck plan has 46 cabins across eight categories designed for mobility-impaired passengers. All accessible cabins have a roll-in shower, wider doors, and grab bars. Sizes range from a 258-square-foot Accessible Interior Stateroom to a 540-square-foot Accessible Crown Loft Suite with a 98-square-foot balcony.