LEGO One Piece 75639 The Going Merry Pirate Ship review

LEGO One Piece 75639 The Going Merry Pirate Ship is a must-have set, and not just for fans who know the Going Merry from the Thousand Sunny.

It's been some time since we've seen a dedicated pirate theme, but LEGO One Piece is here to fill the gap – and it comes with one of the greatest LEGO pirate ships ever designed. Whatever you know about One Piece, 75639 The Going Merry Pirate Ship is destined to be a hit with fans of the anime, live-action and those longing for the days of LEGO Pirates, achieving a level of quality not seen in LEGO ships since the days of LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean...

75639 The Going Merry Pirate Ship

Release: Aug 1, 2025

Retiring: Dec 31, 2026

Price: £119.99 / $139.99 / €129.99

Pieces: 1,376

Minifigures: 5

75639 The Going Merry Pirate Ship is the jewel in the crown of the five new LEGO One Piece sets. The Straw Hat crew's first ship has been faithfully recreated at a relatively accessible price point, and while there's no escaping the fact that 75639 The Going Merry Pirate Ship would need to go even bigger to be accurately scaled to minifigures, the smaller size works in the set's favour, with no important features lost to accommodate this scale.

The ship is still packed with areas to admire above and below deck, with only one area notably scaled down to the point that minifigures can't interact with it. The orange building at the stern of the Going Merry, which would be home to the meeting room, isn't large enough for a minifigure to get in the door. Its presence is appreciated nonetheless, and it still has a use, as it's now become a storage area for various treasures the Straw Hats have come across in their adventures.

This scale doesn't greatly affect the deck of the ship. There's plenty of room to pose the crew's minifigures, as well as any others that you'd like to mix in with 75639 The Going Merry Pirate Ship. The multi-level deck structure also adds depth to an extent we don't often see in LEGO pirate ships, and that's not to mention the intricate taffrail spanning every inch of the ship's edge.

The sails in 75639 The Going Merry Pirate Ship are printed material pieces that work as well as they always have, but now emblazoned with the iconic Straw Hat logo. Through the use of stickers, the LEGO Going Merry continues these decorated details with the sheep head motif, which starts at the figurehead and elegantly swirls along the edge of the ship, incorporating horn designs as it goes. It's good to see this particular detail included, even through stickers, rather than leaving the sides of the ship blank. The design for the sheep head is ingenious, too.

The live-action adaptation of One Piece opts for a realistic sheep figurehead for the Going Merry, whereas the one in the anime has more curved features. The selection of elements used to recreate the sheep head perfectly balances the line between the live action and anime figureheads, making the LEGO Going Merry closely resemble both versions of the ship at the same time.

75639 The Going Merry Pirate Ship's details continue below deck, and dismantling the ship to discover the rooms beneath the deck is intuitive, with elements included in the sub-assemblies to help guide each section properly into place. It's a better experience than simply lifting sections off the ship, as sliding them in is much more satisfying.

Below deck, you'll find a galley, sleeping quarters and a storage area. This covers the most important areas of the Going Merry, ensuring that every possible space in the interior is utilised effectively. The galley is at the stern, with enough space for Sanji to cook while a minifigure (or two, at a push) sit down to enjoy a meal. Stickers line the walls on anti-stud tiles, allowing the galley's details to continue beyond the boundaries of this space.

The sleeping quarters boast an effective hammock build, utilising the natural shape of the bow to simulate a hammock hanging from sloped tiles. The window on either side of the bed offers a similar effect to the shelves in the galley as well. Both work in tandem to continue the spaces for play in 75639 The Going Merry Pirate Ship, able as they are to accommodate minifigures in a degree similar to both the Modular Buildings Collection and 75640 The Baratie Floating Restaurant.

The middle of the ship has no room beneath the deck, but there is a storage area with plenty of food for Luffy and the crew, as well as a space for the four collectable posters. You'll receive four of the eight designs randomly, including the chance for duplicates (our copy came with three identical Luffy posters, for example).

Rounding out the stellar experience in 75639 The Going Merry Pirate Ship are five minifigures. There are only a few exclusive prints among them, but they importantly cover all five members of the Straw Hats in a single set, something that can only otherwise be said of the more expensive 75640 The Baratie Floating Restaurant. Featuring all five crew members in their ship is welcome given the LEGO Group could easily have spread some of the crew members across another build, requiring purchasing a second set to complete the character selection.

Zoro's weapons and neck accessory for his three-sword style, which clips on to his neck to simulate the white sword being held in his mouth, are also included in 75639 The Going Merry Pirate Ship. It's a good element for the character, but it's not likely to be especially versatile. One Piece enthusiasts are sure to love its inclusion, though.

LEGO One Piece 75639 The Going Merry Pirate Ship is a joyful experience to build, play with and display, offering one of the best LEGO pirate ships ever designed, and one that is based on such an iconic seafaring vehicle from pop culture. Whether you love One Piece or have zero personal connection to the series, this is still a great build that is well worth your time, complete with five appealing minifigures for £119.99 / $139.99 / €129.99.

That's a comparable price to 31109 Pirate Ship, but with two more minifigures and 102 more elements, marking this set out as great value too – especially for a licensed build that is iconic as this. Should you only have the budget or space for a single LEGO One Piece set, make sure that it's 75639 The Going Merry Pirate Ship.

Our honest opinion: The best of the best when it comes to LEGO One Piece, and a shining example of what the LEGO Group can do with a pirate ship.

This LEGO set was provided by the LEGO Group for review purposes.

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How long does it take to build LEGO One Piece 75639 The Going Merry Pirate Ship?

You'll need two hours and 30 minutes to put together the LEGO Going Merry and its five minifigures, including some uncommon elements and building techniques such as the sails and flexible tubes.

How many pieces are in LEGO One Piece 75639 The Going Merry Pirate Ship?

1,376 pieces make up 75639 The Going Merry Pirate Ship, including two flexible tubes, flexible plastic string for the rigging and the two sails.

How big is LEGO One Piece 75639 The Going Merry Pirate Ship?

75639 The Going Merry Pirate Ship measures 34cm tall, 39cm long and 20cm wide. It's around the same size as 31109 Pirate Ship, which is 37cm high, 46cm long and 19cm wide.

How much does LEGO One Piece 75639 The Going Merry Pirate Ship cost?

You can pick up 75639 The Going Merry Pirate Ship starting from August 1 for £119.99 / $139.99 / €129.99.