Full review

Words: Val Chapman  Photography: Richard Chapman

The Buccaneer Aruba

There’s an assumption in the caravan market that top-spec, luxurious tourers are the preserve of couples. Yet here is a caravan that belies that theory. 

This is a six-berth, eight-foot-wide, eight-metre-long tourer with pretty much all of the caravan luxuries you could dream of. And it has a layout that offers great versatility for families.

Buccaneer’s only family caravan is a very special offering, packed with kit including an automatic self-levelling system, an on-board water tank, and underfloor heating – and with an air of opulence that puts it right at the top of the touring caravan tree. 

Only the Swift Elegance Grande range and Coachman’s Laser Xcel can be compared in terms of spec level and price – and neither of these ranges includes a six-berth layout.

So family buyers seeking top-level luxury would be well advised to take a close look at the Aruba, as we did. Our day at Preston Caravans and Motorhomes enabled us to immerse ourselves in the luxury  that Buccaneer provides, and we found it easy to imagine this caravan as the holiday base for six. Storage space, kitchen space, bedtime and shower time considerations all came under our usual scrutiny – and it measured up excellently…

The self-levelling system

But before we start the interior exploration of this giant of the caravan world, we need to describe  the E&P self-levelling system that is fitted to all Buccaneers. 

At the press of a button on the touchscreen control, the mighty Aruba levels itself. First, two hydraulic jacks descend from the axle area and level the caravan from side to side. 

Next, four hydraulically operated Al-Ko Big-Foot corner steadies level the caravan from front to back. It takes just two minutes.

The layout

Now we’re ready to step inside and discover the merits of the biggest six-berth caravan that was made in Britain. 

It has three double beds – that’s one fixed double, plus one to make from the dining area and another in the lounge. And it has flexibility; the settees in the lounge are 1.8m long, so they can be used as single beds.

The Aruba has three dining options. That’s the front pull-out table for two which gives you a surface that measured 70cm by 57cm; the offside dining table for four, and, of course, the free-standing table that hides away in the wardrobe when not in use, and converts the lounge into a dining room for, potentially, six. 

The lounge

There’s a general air of opulence about Buccaneers, and nowhere is that more obvious than in the lounge. Velvet armrest edges, velvet piping running around the backrests, and six cushions – that’s two bolster shaped and four square shaped, all in tactile fabric, the largest two having a rather exotic, embossed leaf pattern. 

Curtain tops and ties are also velvet-type fabric, adding to the sophisticated look. The side curtains  are eyeleted, and hang from chrome domestic-style poles.

A contactless charger that pops up when pressed to reveal a USB socket sits in the centre of the windowsill. And the top lockers have wide, stylish chrome handles that have a tilt action to activate the positive catches.

We love Buccaneers’ long, slender rooflight that stretches 1.4m from the sunroof above the lounge window towards the dining area and kitchen; it’s important in keeping the caravan light and bright, because the side windows are slightly tinted. 

And, after dark, you’ll appreciate the bright light emitting from the six spotlights that are set into the rooflight’s frame.

The dining ‘room’ has a cosy look, created by the lovely velvet-trimmed upholstery and the nicely curved corner sections. And there’s plenty of space for four to dine here.

The kitchen

As we began our exploration of the kitchen, two things stood out. First, the huge sink. It’s rectangular, and measures 31cm by 50cm. Washing up after meals for six would be no problem. 

The second thing we noticed is the cast iron pan stand; another pointer to Buccaneer quality.

The kitchen surface measures 41cm by 60cm; not overgenerous, so the extension would come into play most of the time. It hinges up into the doorway but there is ample space to walk past it.

Three drawers, each 38cm wide, are in the centre of the kitchen, alongside a cabinet that’s also 38cm wide and contains two substantial metal drawers that slide out on very easy-glide runners. There’s space under the drawers, too.

One of the two double-doored top cabinets is fitted with racks  for mugs and plates. The doors have neat, concealed tilt catches and soft-close mechanisms. 

Aft of the kitchen sits the fridge. It is a Dometic 153-litre model with a separate freezer and doors that can be opened from either the left or the right-hand side. 

Above it is the microwave, a Russell Hobbs model with a dark mirror front; very refined and very Buccaneer. 

The storage

By the time our Aruba exploration reaches the bedroom we are already assessing the caravan’s storage capability. And here we find one of its greatest assets. The bed rises exceptionally easily on its two gas-filled struts.

Importantly, there is a wide exterior hatch to the under-bed space. We discover lots of storage space  in all areas of the Aruba.

Three lockers are above the bed, three more are above the dining ‘room’ and four are above the lounge. And three drawers are beneath the wardrobe. 

The area under the dining seating is easily accessed by raising the seat bases. And the lounge under-seat storage areas can be accessed via drop-down doors or by raising the seat bases. 

The space under the nearside settee has an exterior hatch. Three drawers are centre front, below the table that pulls out from under the top of this cabinet – and how it pulls out is worthy of comment. As you give it a gentle pull, it rises, to become level with the top of the cabinet; another nice refined Buccaneer touch. 

The washroom

With all this refinement in the Aruba you’d expect to find that the shower room enjoys boutique status. And you’d be right. 

This is a lovely luxurious ‘room’, with a double-doored mirrored cabinet flanked by two more cabinets, another double-doored cabinet under the washbasin, a tall towel warmer (part of the Alde system) in dark grey, and a full-height, grey rock-effect panel in the shower cubicle. 

Importantly, the washroom is a roomy 95cm wide. All this luxury is amply mixed with practicality. 

The spec

The Aruba is equipped with the Alde Load Monitor (that enables you to set the maximum mains current available on your pitch, to prevent you exceeding it). 

Buccaneers have 40-litre water tanks and, as you’d expect, alarm systems. They also come with an Aquasource Waterline for direct connection to a tap on a pitch.

You can view an earlier review of the 202 model year Buccaneer Aruba here.