LEGO Ideas River Steamboat (21356) | Set Sail with the LEGO Ideas River Steamboat 21356 – A Classic Paddle Boat Adventure!
Published: 1 month ago
Last Updated: 1 month ago
LEGO Ideas has become one of the most exciting and beloved branches of the LEGO brand, giving fans the opportunity to see their own creative designs transformed into official sets. Originally launched in 2008 under the name LEGO Cuusoo, the platform allows LEGO enthusiasts to submit their own set concepts, which are then reviewed by LEGO once they receive 10,000 votes from the community. If a project is approved, it becomes an official LEGO® Ideas set, often featuring unique builds that differ from traditional LEGO themes. Over the years, LEGO Ideas has produced some of the most sought-after and highly detailed sets, appealing to both casual builders and adult collectors. One of the most iconic sets in the lineup is the LEGO Ideas NASA Apollo Saturn V (21309), a stunning 1:110 scale model of the historic rocket that sent astronauts to the moon, praised for its intricate details and realistic design. Fans of pop culture have also been treated to incredible sets, such as the LEGO Ideas Friends Central Perk (21319), a faithful recreation of the iconic coffee shop from the beloved TV series Friends, and the LEGO Ideas The Office (21336), which captures the quirky charm of Dunder Mifflin's Scranton branch with dozens of references for fans to enjoy Another standout is the LEGO Ideas Ship in a Bottle (21313), a beautifully crafted display piece featuring a fully rigged ship encased within a transparent LEGO bottle. The LEGO Ideas program continues to thrive, with new and diverse fan-designed sets launching each year, and now we are awaiting the latest set too hit the shelves. The LEGO Ideas River Steamboat is due to be launched on April 10th (April 7th for LEGO Insiders) along with a GWP too! We take a look at it below:
Set Details
The LEGO Ideas River Steamboat 21356 set brings the charm of a classic river steamboat to life with an impressive 4,090-piece build. Designed by LEGO fan Aaron Hall as part of the LEGO Ideas program, the model is inspired by the historic paddle boats of the Mississippi River and reimagined as a refurbished vessel used for entertainment tours. This intricately detailed set features multiple decks, including a pilothouse, crew cabin, and bathroom on the texas deck, a restaurant and music stage on the main deck, and a kitchen and steam engine museum on the boiler deck. Functional elements enhance the experience, with a working paddle connected to a ‘steam’ engine, a rudder that moves with the ship’s wheel, and removable decks for easy interior access. Set to launch on April 10, 2025, with early access for LEGO Insiders from April 7, the LEGO Ideas River Steamboat will be available at LEGO.com and LEGO Stores for $329.99 / £289.99 / €329.99. As a special bonus, LEGO Insiders purchasing between April 7–13 will receive a free LEGO Amelia Ticket Booth gift (while supplies last).
Theme Analysis
As regular readers will know, the LEGO Ideas theme is one of our strongest for LEGO investment sets and one we are keen to see great new sets being launched and this might well be another one.
After nearly 15 years, LEGO ideas has seen over 70 sets launched and across the retired LEGO sets delivers average annualised growth of 15%, a strong overall performance, yet one that can be improved further using solid LEGO investment set selection methods.
We have looked at some of the retired LEGO Ideas sets below including LEGO Pirates of Barracuda Bay (21322) which is close to doubling in value since retiring in 2020 (12% annualised growth), LEGO Old Fishing Store (21311) which is close to trebling in value (15% annualise3d growth) and LEGO The Beatles Yellow Submarine (21306) which has more than trebled in value since retiring at the end of 2017 (18% annualised growth).
Conclusion
Another strong large set from the ever popular and strong LEGO investment theme LEGO Ideas due to launch in April 2025. Coming from a strong theme is the best start a potential LEGO investment can have and this is one we will be monitoring to see how strong demand is, but it is one that has been added to our watchlist for now!
