The Buccaneer Hotel
Hotel Overview
The Buccaneer is a luxury oceanfront resort located on St. Croix in
the United States Virgin Islands. Completely self-contained, The
Buccaneer offers a challenging 18-hole golf course, 8 superb tennis courts, 3
exquisite beaches, 4 restaurants, water sports center, health spa, and fitness
center, all located on a 340 acre tropical estate.
Spacious, elegant accommodations are placed throughout the property with
expansive terraces and impressive views. The Great House main building sits atop
a hillside overlooking the Caribbean Sea and the Christiansted Harbor.
This resort is constructed around buildings which date to 1653, its
architecture and history reflect the rich heritage of St. Croix. The Buccaneer
has been offering timeless Caribbean hospitality since 1947.
HistoryFrom the Sixteenth Century to now...
The Buccaneer is a completely modern hotel with a fascinating historical
background. It was in 1653 that Charles Martel, a Knight of Malta, constructed
the first building on Estate Shoys where The Buccaneer is located.
This French Greathouse, which overlooks one of the swimming pools, was placed
out of sight of the sea to protect from roving foes. Later, after the Danes
bought the island in 1733, Governor von Prock built his home on the estate,
turning the French Greathouse into a sugar factory and erecting the sugar mill
which is as it was in the days when sugar was king.
Michael Shoy, from whom the area known as Estate Shoys received its name, bought
the estate from von Prock and began growing cotton. Later the Heyliger Company
raised cattle here
Finally in 1948, the Armstrong family, who had owned and operated the cattle
estate since 1922, opened The Buccaneer for business with eleven guest rooms. It
was the first hotel in St. Croix to be built and operated by an island family.
Guests, known as "continentals," made a two-day trip from the
mainland to stay there and often mixed their own drinks, helped rake the beach,
paint furniture, and plan meals.
In the early days, before modern tourism attractions, guests gathered nightly
for cocktails. Today, The Buccaneer offers live music and fine dining for
nightlife diversions, but maintains the repertoire of cocktails popular among
early guests, including Cruzan Confusion, Raising Cane, Caribbean Sunset and
Jump-Up-and-Kiss-Me. Read more about these Vintage Cocktails.
Guest rooms, which slowly and steadily grew in number to meet the demands of
increasing business, were named after the coin of the day during the
swashbuckling buccaneer era, including Lucky Farthings, Pretty Penny, Pieces of
Eight and Doubloons, a tradition that continues with the recent opening of the
new luxury Doubloons.
Under the leadership of Robert Douglas Armstrong, the son of the founders of
The Buccaneer, the resort became one of the world's top resort hotels, won
numerous awards and became an icon in the Caribbean tourism industry. Mr.
Armstrong passed away on Saturday, May 21, 2005 following a much admired 47 year
career.His children, Douglas, Robert and Elizabeth, continue the family
tradition of managing the esteemed resort in the gracious tradition he
established. Although The Buccaneer is a great deal larger than when it
first opened, it still retains the warm and intimate atmosphere of the original
estate.
Location
The Buccaneer is located on the eastern end of St. Croix, less than a five
minute drive from the sightseeing, shopping and dining found in the historic
town of Christiansted.
Rooms
Luxury Beachside
Doubloons
Located on the Mermaid Beach, luxurious villa-style accommodations have sitting
areas with picture windows and marbled patios or balconies with views of the sea
and Christiansted harbor. Each room interconnects through the patio or balcony.
These spacious rooms feature fine furnishings, walk-in closets, and baths with
whirlpool tubs and separate showers.
Ficus Suite
This two-bedroom suite, located above the Grotto beach and pool, features a
master bedroom with king bed, bath with whirlpool tub, and spacious patio
overlooking the sea. The second bedroom features two queen beds and full bath.
Frigate Suite
A luxury suite located above the Grotto beach and pool, featuring a master
bedroom with four-poster king bed, full bath with double shower and separate
tub. The sitting room has two day beds and a half bath. Spacious patio overlooks
the pool, beach, and sea.
Frigate Room
An elegantly-appointed room that can connect with the Frigate Suite,
featuring two queen beds, spacious bath with double shower and tub, picture
window and patio overlooking the pool, beach and sea.
Deluxe Oceanfront
Spacious rooms have sitting areas, picture windows, ocean front patios, and
distinctive 16-foot high wood ceilings. Rooms inter- connect. Located along the
shore between two beaches.
Luxury Ocean View
Spacious, well-appointed rooms with sitting area and private patio, some with
whirlpool baths and marble floors. Located along the ridge near the Great House,
and on the second floor of the Great House.
Family Cottage Suites
Located on the hillside between the Great House and the beach, each suite has a
patio that fronts a spacious lawn and sea views, a master bedroom with king bed
and window seat bed. The second room has two twin beds. The two bedrooms share
one bath.
Deluxe Ocean View
Spacious rooms feature sitting area, private balconies with views of the sea or
Christiansted harbor. Located on the hillside adjacent to the Great House, near
the tennis courts.
Great House Suites
Luxury suites, located on the first floor of the Great House, feature master
bedrooms with four-poster king beds, separate full baths, walk-in closets and
dressing areas. Separate living areas have two day beds and full baths. Patios
offer sea views.
Great House Ocean
View
Located on the second floor of the Great House, with private balconies and
views of the sea or Christiansted harbor. It was in this part of the resort
Alexander Hamilton lived as a child, when his father came to collect a debt owed
a firm in St. Kitts. This portion of the resort is now called the Hamilton Wing.
Great House Mountain View
Located on the second floor of the historic Great House, these beautifully
furnished rooms feature private balconies with views of the golf course and
island.
All rooms feature
- Patio or balcony
- One king or two queen beds
- Small refrigerator
- Safe
- Telephone
- Hair dryers
- Air-conditioning
- Satellite television
- Ceiling fans
- Irons and ironing boards
- Coffee makers
- Ribs and roll-aways are available by advance request
Services
These beaches at The
Buccaneer are as beautiful as you can imagine.
There are three beaches at The Buccaneer, all located in natural bays. The
pristine white gold sand contrasts with the glistening turquoise water at the
shore. As the water deepens, so does the color to a beautiful sapphire blue.
Along the outcroppings that create the bays, you can find interesting underwater
formations and fish - a perfect place for snorkeling.
Mermaid Beach and the
Grotto Beach
Located between these beaches and extending beyond, are the beachfront
accommodations, including the Frigate Suite, Ficus Suite, and Frigate Room. The
dock on Mermaid Beach is convenient for departing on day trips to Buck Island,
snorkeling, and other boating activities.
Palm trees along both beaches provide plenty of shade, while the open beach
areas are perfect for sunning. The Mermaid Restaurant on the beach offers casual
fare until 6:00pm and features Vintage Cocktails that are really fun! The Grotto
beach extends to the Grotto pool and Grotto Grill - great for casual poolside
meals and snacks until 6:00pm.
Grotto Beach
Delightful for playing in the sand, floating on a mat, strolling along
the sand, and whatever catches your fancy.
Whistle Beach and
Fitness Trail
Favored for privacy, Whistle Beach is tucked beyond the hill along the fitness
Trail.
Food & Beverages
Breakfast is as light as a fruit plate or substantial as banana pancakes.
Either way, the sea view is eye opening. Lunch casually at the beach or pool on
savory sandwiches, soups and salads. In the evening, island elegance prevails.
Classic and Mediterranean specialties, often with a tropical twist, may be
complemented by the fine wine collection. The lights of Christiansted twinkling
below infuse a satisfying sense of place. Later, there may be dancing to jazz
combos or steel drum bands
- The Terrace
Located in the Great House, The Terrace offers covered, open-air dining with
views of the manicured fairways, Caribbean Sea and Christiansted Harbor. A
complimentary full breakfast is served to resort guests. The dinner menu
features classical cuisine with Caribbean accents.It's a favorite gathering
place for cocktails and conversation after-hours
- The Brass Parrot
Also in the Great House,the air-conditioned Brass Parrot has
floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of the sparkling lights of
Christiansted for your special event. May also be used as a meeting room
- The Mermaid
The Mermaid is located beachside, and features an extensive lunch menu
of savory seafood and specials, soups, salads and sandwiches, ranging from
all-American favorites to island specialties and vegetarian. There is also a
full bar, including frozen island favorites.
- The Grotto Grill
Offers a lunch menu of hot dogs, hamburgers and veggie burgers, served
beachside at the Grotto Beach and pool