LEGO Reviews City60368

Arctic Explorer Ship

Name: LEGO Arctic Explorer Ship 60368
Brand: LEGO
SKU: 60368
Rating: 4.86 (872 reviews)

68 · MIXED REVIEWSINVESTMENT GRADE: BB2023815 pcsHigh agreement · 94%

Expert reviews

3analyzed

Owner ratings

872

Consensus

WAIT FOR SALE

BrickScore

Mixed Reviews

Owners

Synthesized Verdict

"The Arctic Explorer Ship earns its Mixed Reviews BrickScore of 68.1 from a genuine price-per-piece problem: a lot of the 815 pieces are large hull plates, and $159.99 is a steep ask. For families who will actually float it, the generous accessory package and working crane deliver well above what the piece count suggests."

The Arctic Explorer Ship (60368) carries a BrickScore of 68.1 and a Mixed Reviews tier, reflecting reviewer ambivalence about its value for money at $159.99 for 815 pieces despite strong marks for design, play features, and minifigure count. Owner sentiment is far warmer: 4.86 out of 5 across 872 ratings, with 94% recommending it and a play-experience score of 4.68 on LEGO.com. The set genuinely floats, includes a helicopter, ROV sub, dinghy, working crane, and 7 minifigures, but the $0.196 price per piece is the primary sticking point among critical reviewers.

Where they split: The clearest split is on value. Expert reviewers scored value for money at 53.6 out of 100, reflecting the $0.196 price per piece for a predominantly large-plate hull build. Owners score value at 4.38 out of 5, likely factoring in the floating feature, accessories, and sheer size. Both assessments are defensible and measure different things.

Where to Buy

Out of stock · 6% off

$149.99

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LOVED (6)

01The ship actually floats, enabling genuine bath and pool play
02Generous accessory package: helicopter, ROV submarine with lowering mechanism, dinghy, and working crane
03Seven custom minifigures with equipment variations including hair and helmet options
04Large modular hull at 73 cm that gives full interior access to the command cabin and crew areas
05Small accessories including laptops, coffee mugs, and binoculars adding scene-setting detail
06Orca whale inclusion praised as an exciting addition

CRITICIZED (4)

01High price per piece at $0.196, flagged as poor value by expert reviewers who scored value for money at 53.6
02The dinghy does not fit cleanly into the rear storage area without modifications
03No crane hook for the dinghy noted as a missing feature
04Water retention after play: the hull traps water in hidden cavities, requiring days of drying time

What reviewers are saying

"this is the largest Lego City boat ever I think it's the second largest boat they've ever made of any sort behind only the Titanic at 28 inches or 71 centimeters in length"

JANG's LEGO Reviews

"Arctic and ocean exploration are regular LEGO City subthemes and the two are combined this year. Beyond introducing a fantastic menagerie of animals, this wave features the huge 60368 Arctic Explorer Ship, which is even …"

Brickset Reviews

"The star of the set, and what is going to be the main reason fans pick this set up is the new LEGO Orca element!"

Jay's Brick Blog

Ecosystem

Previous LEGO City large boat sets — Relative to other big boat sets that we've gotten in the past the value here ain't bad; pricing is more competitive than expected for this scale of set

Major toy manufacturers' comparable products — Even compared to other major names in toys, the price here ain't bad for 2023 compared to other high quality plastic toy manufacturers

LEGO Titanic — This boat is the second largest boat LEGO has ever made, behind only the Titanic at 28 inches or 71 centimeters in length

60266 Ocean Exploration Ship — 60368 is larger, surpassing 60266 in length (71cm vs smaller). However, 60266 had a better balance of details and layout. The connection between hull elements uses the same technique (4x6 plates with hinges). Crane design is similar but 60368's is more proportionally realistic with functional covers. One commenter preferred 60368 over a similarly-priced Star Wars set (Republic Guard gunship), rating 60368 at 9.5/10.

CityTier 1Investment Grade

By Reviewer · 3

Avg score

Consensus

WAIT FOR SALE

JANG's LEGO Reviews

Expert Video Source

"this is the largest Lego City boat ever I think it's the second largest boat they've ever made of any sort behind only the Titanic at 28 inches or 71 centimeters in length"

Key Pros

✓Floats in water (both ship and dinghy)
✓Extensive interior detail and accessibility with two bunks, restroom, research station, galley, and sample tank
✓Large new hull piece with pointed bow can be used for custom ships

Key Cons

✕Helicopter canopy does not close well
✕Only one diver included with equipment for only one diver, awkward for a diving-focused set

JUMP TO REVIEW

Brickset Reviews

Editorial Source

Key Pros

✓Sheer size provides stunning presence on display
✓Enormous interior with two decks
✓Extra vehicles for play (ROV, dinghy, helicopter)

Key Cons

✕Inefficient use of deck space; stern section is quite empty
✕Some areas lack detail, particularly the bridge and living areas

READ FULL REVIEW

Jay's Brick Blog

Editorial Source

WAIT FOR SALE

"The star of the set, and what is going to be the main reason fans pick this set up is the new LEGO Orca element!"

Key Pros

✓Another great City research vessel to add to the collection
✓Great selection of minifigures - 7 unique characters each with unique torsos
✓Ship is absolutely massive (71cm long)

Key Cons

✕Quite expensive at full price ($159.99 USD)
✕Could have included more animals like a seal or shark

READ FULL REVIEW

Dimensional Analysis

Investment Layer

Buy now (0)Wait for sale (1)

Value drivers

Brickset Reviews: Exclusive new orca minifigure is the primary value driver, described as 'highly desirable, potentially overshadowing the actual ship.'

Jay's Brick Blog: All 7 minifigures have unique torsos and colour coordination with the theme, making them collectively valuable rather than a single exclusive minifig driving value.

Exclusivity

JANG's LEGO Reviews: Wide retail

Brickset Reviews: LEGO exclusive; orca is exclusive to this set initially (though available on B&P for parts). The specialized large hull elements are unique to this set.

Resale

Brickset Reviews: Moderate. The exclusive orca is valuable but availability through B&P will limit aftermarket growth. Specialized hull elements have MOC value. One commenter (MittyBricks from UK) stated they had 'bought bits and modified it' and purchased other sets in the wave, suggesting the set has MOC modification appeal.

Jay's Brick Blog: Not explicitly addressed. However, Jay notes that most LEGO City sets eventually get discounted at third party retailers, suggesting standard retail availability and eventual sales pricing.

Minifigures & Standout Parts

In this set (7)

Arctic Explorer Captain - Male, Medium Azure Jacket, White Fur Collar, Reddish Brown Hair, Dark Orange Beard

Arctic Explorer Researcher - Female, Medium Azure Jacket with Flash Drive, Medium Azure Legs, Medium Nougat Hair, Glasses

Arctic Explorer Diver - Male, Dark Blue Diving Suit, Orange Air Tanks and Flippers, Medium Azure Helmet

Arctic Explorer - Male, Shoulder Bag, Glasses, Black Hair, Orange Life Jacket

Arctic Explorer Pilot - Female, Medium Azure Jacket, Name Badge, Dark Blue Helmet, Trans-Light Blue Visor

Arctic Explorer - Female, Orange Jacket, Dark Orange Braids with Dark Blue Beanie, Freckles

Arctic Explorer - Male, Stethoscope, Medium Azure Legs, Black Hair, Orange Life Jacket

Standout parts (per reviewers)

New Arctic exploration hull with pointed bow and full transom
Brand new for 2023, same width as existing hull but longer with distinctive pointed bow shape; can be used for future custom ship builds
New medium azure scuba helmet color
Latest generation of scuba helmet in a new color variant
New printed caution stripe piece in new color
Reviewer notes the new color looks really good and is interesting
Dual-molded Orca with white and black coloring
New Orca animal element with printed eyes, articulating jaw that opens/closes, blowhole with mini peg hole for trans light blue water effect piece
Transparent light blue flame/plume piece
Can be inserted into Orca's blowhole to represent water spray
Orca minifigure body and jawValue
Exclusive new orca minifigure, 14cm in length, with articulated lower jaw revealing rows of teeth; characteristic white patches behind eyes; realistic proportions for head, fins, and tail; connection points on underside (anti-studs) and two studs on top for griping; bar on dorsal fin width for minifigures to grip; highly desirable element that potentially overshadows the ship itself.

What Owners Say · summarized from 45 written reviews (LEGO, Amazon, Walmart)

Owners overwhelmingly praise this Arctic Explorer Ship as an impressive, large-scale build with excellent play features, authentic details, and the remarkable ability to float, though some report structural concerns where hull pieces meet and occasional missing pieces on arrival.

COMMON PRAISE

+Actually floats despite size and weight
+Impressive scale and visual presence when complete
+Rich play features including crane, helicopter, ROV, dinghy, and moon pool
+Excellent minifigure variety and quality details

COMMON COMPLAINTS

−Structural weakness where two hull pieces connect can cause collapse during play
−High price point relative to piece count due to large hull molds
−Dinghy storage challenges without modifications
−Stickers degrade with water exposure over time

Water playabilityLarge-scale buildDetailed minifigure selectionPlay features over piece countDurability concerns

Buyer Ratings

Amazon4.9

694 reviews

95%