Building the LEGO Going Merry felt like taking a small trip back into the world of One Piece — but this time, I was the one assembling the ship instead of watching the crew board it. If you’re a teen or young adult who grew up with the manga, anime or Netflix live action, there’s something really comforting about seeing this iconic ship come to life via your hands. It’s familiar, charming, and fun from start to end.
Build Experience — Clever, Modern, and Surprisingly Engaging
What I appreciated most is how consistently enjoyable the build was. The whole ship is built brick by brick, including the hull, so the process feels very hands-on compared to some older LEGO boats that relied on big molded pieces. It’s not complicated — just rewarding. Every bag brings something new, and the steps flow nicely without any dull stretches.
There’s a nice balance between decorative sections and little interior spaces. You move from shaping the decks to building kitchen or the crew quarters then suddenly your putting up Nami’s tangerine spot. It kept me in that “just one more section” mode almost the entire time. If you enjoy builds that feel keeps you alive from the very first steps all the way throughout, Going Merry does that really well. The top section is especially very fun and calming while the bottom section leading up to the top part has you focused, all the way. Also, it is not as hard as it looks!
The Minifigures Make It Even Better
One thing I really love is that you get the whole early Straw Hat crew in one set.
Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji — all included, no chasing extra sets for them, and no random
The designs have personality without feeling overly stylized. Zoro’s mouth-held sword is a fun little detail, and everyone looks right at home on the ship. For me, this made the final display so much more satisfying because the ship doesn’t feel “empty.” You finish the build and the crew is already there, ready to sail.
*NOT YET READY
