I don’t often feel the need to jump on LEGO® set announcements these days. Plenty of people already rush to share the LEGO® Group’s press releases. Having once been an RLFM myself, I’ve got a bit of a “been there, done that” attitude toward new reveals. These days, I’d rather spend my time being creative with bricks than reporting on them. But every now and then, a set comes along that makes me giddy. Today, one of those rumors became fact: Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Ship is on the horizon.

Now there’s a mouthful. I’m sure the LEGO® Group and Disney have their reasons for calling it Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Ship instead of simply the Black Pearl. Personally, I would have preferred the latter. Still, the set name on a box I’m going to recycle anyway isn’t a deal breaker. What’s more curious is that neither the LEGO® website, the press release, nor the set itself contains any reference to the name “Black Pearl.”

The Elusive Black Pearl

This is the LEGO® Group’s second take on the “legendary ghost galleon,” as the press release calls it. The first version (set 4184) released back in 2011—squarely during my dark ages. With 804 pieces and six Minifigures, it retailed for $129.99 CAD. I’ve often lamented missing it, and it quickly became one of my “white whales.”

On the secondary market, that first Pearl has averaged over $560 CAD used and more than $1000 CAD new. Needless to say, that kept it far out of reach. In hindsight, I’m glad I never pulled the trigger.

The new Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Ship is considerably larger and more detailed than its predecessor, with a retail price to match. But if, like me, you’ve dreamed of owning the Black Pearl, this version is still much more attainable than the aftermarket cost of the original.

Set Specs

• Name: Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Ship
• Set #: 10365
• Theme: Icons
• Cost: $449.99 CAD
• Brick Count: 2862
• Cost/Brick: $0.157 CAD (above average)
• Minifigures: 9
• Bricks/Fig: 318 (decent ratio for an Icons set)
• Insiders Early Access: September 12, 2025
• Release Date: September 15, 2025

When this set was still a rumor, forums were full of people groaning about the price. At $449.99 CAD, Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Ship does come in at $0.157 per brick, which is higher than LEGO®’s long-term average of about $0.14 CAD per brick. So yes—it’s expensive, and not the best cost-per-piece ratio we’ve seen.

That said, LEGO® has always been a premium hobby. Big, licensed Icons sets are never going to be cheap, and the aftermarket price of the original Black Pearl shows just how much collectors are willing to pay. I don’t think this is an outrageous price point for what you get, even if it isn’t a steal either. At the end of the day, it comes down to choosing which of the big sets really matter to you—and for me, the Pearl has been on my wish list for years.

A Display Piece Through and Through

My first impression of Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Ship is largely positive. The exterior looks wonderfully detailed in the product photos. My main disappointment is the limited interior. The central deck section lifts away to reveal a room below, and the poop deck removes to access the captain’s quarters—but that’s about it. The rest of the interior doesn’t seem accessible.

From the press release, it looks like that sacrifice is due to the set’s functionality. The ship separates from the keel so you can display it on a stand or “at sea.” It also has sliding cannons and a moving rudder. Those mechanical features likely eat up the available interior space.

Would You Rather?

Personally, I never go back to a model just to show someone how turning a wheel moves a rudder. Once it’s built, I rarely touch the play features again. What I do care about is display potential: details, shaping, and places to position Minifigures. For me, a fully fleshed-out interior would have been more valuable than play gimmicks I’ll never use.

That said, I’m still buying the ship formerly known as the Black Pearl. Whether it’s a day-one purchase remains to be seen. The set launches with a gift-with-purchase—LEGO® Captain Jack Sparrow’s Compass (5009609)—but it doesn’t really interest me. I might wait for double VIP points or a more appealing GWP.

What about you? Will you be grabbing this one on launch day, or holding out? Do you prefer full interiors, or are you happy with the play features? Drop a comment below or reach out on social media—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Until next time,

–Tom

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