The Current Appearance of Cleopatra’s Barge at Caesars Palace |

Published on: October 30, 2024, 12:08h.

Last updated on: October 30, 2024, 12:08h.

We had prior knowledge of its disappearance. The destruction of Cleopatra’s Barge at Caesars Palace, which was one of the few remaining relics of retro-Vegas kitsch design on the Strip, commenced earlier this year. However, actually seeing it absent—thanks to new images of the construction site from Vital Vegas blogger Scott Roeben—is a different, more disheartening form of awareness.

Cleopatra’s Barge, which opened in 1970 and closed in 2020, was named and modeled after the pleasure yacht used by Cleopatra VII, the last queen of Egypt. (Image: Caesars Entertainment)

Since around 2000, most of the reviews and articles written about the barge have highlighted its miraculous ability to endure the changes that have claimed similar remnants of classic Vegas throughout America’s ever-evolving landscape.

Well, so much for miracles.

What’s Barging In

The photo of the construction zone above will eventually resemble the rendering below. It’s the caviar and cocktail bar in the front of Caspian’s, the part of the upcoming “speakeasy” visible from Caesars Palace’s gaming floor. (Images: Scott Roeben/Vital Vegas and Celano Design Studio Co.).

A trendy bar named Caspian’s Caviar & Cocktails is being constructed in place of the barge because, primarily, of financial reasons.

Clique Hospitality generates significant rental income for the casinos hosting its bars and nightclubs—a much larger sum than what Wayne Newton’s “Up Close & Personal” residency brought in for Caesars Entertainment when it debuted as the final show at Cleopatra’s Barge in 2019.

Clique runs the Barbershop at Cosmopolitan and Easy’s at Aria, both being “speakeasies,” Las Vegas’ version of the illegal bars that operated clandestinely at the back of other establishments during America’s Prohibition period.

And Caspian’s will follow suit. It will feature a 1,100 square foot front bar, visible from the casino floor, serving caviar, champagne, and vodka cocktails in a sophisticated setting.

However, the real excitement is in a hidden passageway behind the bar’s rear wall—a 2,300 square-foot music lounge seating 100 guests.

“Those in the know will venture into the darkness, and upon opening the door, an explosion of vibrancy and color will shock the senses with a moment of brilliant impact, inviting them into an otherworldly journey,” reads the somewhat PR-flavored press release from Caesars.

This is what will become the “secret” speakeasy behind the bar at Caspian’s. Photos like this owe either to Scott Roeben’s unparalleled network of spies, his lack of fear of being arrested for trespassing or, probably, both. (Image: Scott Roeben/Vital Vegas)

Classic Vegas Sailing Off

Cleopatra’s Lounge opened with the Centurian Tower addition, now the Nobu Hotel, in September 1970. It replaced the original Nero’s Nook show lounge.

This original rendering of Cleopatra’s Barge is dated May 25, 1970. (Image: Las Vegas News Bureau)

Labeled as a “floating” lounge, it was actually constructed beneath the moat that surrounded it.

The Barge’s final, surprise moment in the spotlight came in 2022, when Adele — on the eve of the debut of her long-delayed residency at the Colosseum — tweeted a photo of herself goofing around nervously on its abandoned deck. (Image: X/Twitter/@adele)

In addition to Mr. Las Vegas, the Barge’s tiny deck has hosted performances from Dionne Warwick and magician Matt Goss.

Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra were reportedly occasional guests of its 150-person capacity audience, although this couldn’t be verified.

The golden breasts of the Cleopatra statue at the boat’s bow were believed to be lucky charms for gamblers to touch for good luck on the Las Vegas Strip.

Only Caesars Entertainment holds the whereabouts of those breasts, if they will be showcased again, and they remain silent on the matter.

We’ll provide updates as we learn more.

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