LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean Black Pearl Review: A Behemoth Build on the High Seas

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It’s been 22 years since Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl first captivated moviegoers, and LEGO fans have finally gotten the high-seas building set they’ve wanted for so long. LEGO and Disney have collaborated on various Pirates sets over the years, including larger ship builds based on later movies in the series (like the Queen Anne’s Revenge and the Silent Mary). However, the most famous ship from the films, the Black Pearl, only had one LEGO build back in 2011, and it wasn’t very large.

For years, the 804-piece Black Pearl LEGO set from 2011 was the only one available, and finding a new, unopened copy now costs nearly $1000. However, this fall brought a change with the release of a much larger ship from LEGO, delighting fans of the Pirates theme. This new LEGO Black Pearl (also known as Captain Jack Sparrow’s Ship) is the ship fans have always wanted, despite a few small imperfections.

The new Black Pearl, currently available for pre-order at LEGO (with shipping in about 60 days), is a truly massive set. It’s made up of 2862 pieces – around 600 more than the Silent Mary – and when fully assembled, it stands and stretches to over two feet in both height and length. To be honest, the hardest part after building it was finding a place to put it – you’ll definitely want to show this one off!

LEGO Icons Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Ship / Black Pearl (10365) / $379.99

Order at LEGO

Order at the disney store

The set’s pieces are divided into 22 separate bags (with the sails and masts packaged separately), and it includes eight minifigures: Jack Sparrow, Barbossa, Will, Elizabeth, Gibbs, Anamaria, Cotton + Parrot, and Jacoby. It’s a really good selection of characters, although some fans might be a little let down that Barbossa’s monkey, Jack, isn’t included. Considering its huge size and the number of minifigures, the $379.99 price for Captain Jack Sparrow’s Ship isn’t too shocking. It’s one of the pricier sets currently available, but the quality and quantity justify the cost.

The whole build process took me almost eight hours, completed over several days. How long it takes you will depend on your experience, and my time was a bit longer because I spent extra time carefully attaching the sails. However, you can generally expect it to take between 6.5 and 8.5 hours.

The first six bags or so are mostly for building the ship’s foundation and its numerous cannons. A really neat thing about the Black Pearl is the system that makes all the cannons extend at the same time, but to make that work, you have to build each cannon individually. After building all 16, I feel like I could assemble one even with my eyes closed.

Let me tell you, a huge tip for tackling this build – especially in those early stages – is to work on steps at the same time. What I mean is, you’ll often find yourself building multiple identical sections – two or four of the same thing. Instead of completing one entirely before starting another, keep an eye out for those little “x2” icons in the instructions. When you see them, build those duplicates simultaneously. Trust me, it’ll save you a ton of time and frustration. It’s a simple thing, but it really streamlines the process and prevents you from constantly backtracking. Seriously, don’t skip this!

Once you’ve assembled all the cannons, you’ll move on to working within the ship’s walls and the openings that let the cannons fire. This part can be a bit repetitive, but don’t give up – it’ll go quicker than you expect.

Bags 10 through 12 are the most enjoyable part of the build. They create the bar on the main deck – you might recognize it as the place where Barbossa says, “Best start believin’ in ghost stories, Miss Turner” in the film – and the Captain’s Quarters. The Captain’s Quarters and dining area at the back of the ship are incredibly detailed, and the top of that section comes off easily, allowing you to showcase the room inside.

Regarding how easily things come apart, I was really impressed with the base of this set. Besides the boat itself, there’s a separate base it sits on, which gives it the look of an old-fashioned model ship. The Pearly sits securely on the base, but it doesn’t lock in place, so it’s easy to lift off without unintentionally taking pieces with it each time.

The last four bags in this build cover the masts and sails, and they were definitely the most challenging part of the whole process. Unlike the bricks, attaching the cloth sails isn’t as precise, so it can be difficult to get them to look right. That difficulty is multiplied four times over when it comes to the ropes that go up the side of the ship and connect to the masts. Honestly, those ropes quickly became incredibly frustrating as I tried to complete the model.

These ropes are different than you might expect – they’re made of a rubbery material, not the flexible string found in other sets. If they get twisted in the packaging or slightly bent, they’ll hold that shape for a while. This results in a set of ropes that are curved and twisted, and difficult to straighten without a lot of effort. While the material might eventually allow them to return to straight lines over time, it’s frustrating in the moment. It’s a familiar experience for all LEGO builders: when the pieces you have don’t match the picture on the box.

Once you’ve successfully assembled the ropes and attached the sails to the masts, the Black Pearl is finished, and the resulting model is truly impressive. While there are a few minor imperfections, this large set more than makes up for them. If you’re a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean, this Black Pearl set is everything you’ve been waiting for, making it a worthwhile purchase before it’s discontinued. It’s definitely worth grabbing while you can!

Now, let’s hope that LEGO has a Flying Dutchman up its sleeve in 2026…

A review copy of LEGO’s Captain Jack Sparrow’s Ship set was provided by the manufacturer.

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2025-09-29 23:41