The Spirit West Coast organization is sponsoring a fabulous 7-day Christian music cruise to Alaska, Aug. 9-16, 2008. What makes this “festival at sea” trip a Christian music cruise is that several top artists are joining the trip and will be performing onboard. Confirmed on the late luxury vacation of a lifetime are Matthew West, Aaron Shust, Wayne Watson, Phil Joel, Bebo Norman and SWC favorite comedian Bob Smiley. For more details on “Spirit Cruise ‘08”, including a free color brochure, go to www.inspirationcruises.com or call 1-800-247-1899.

The Spirit West Coast V.I.P. patron seating program is The Terrace Club. Terrace Club members receive several benefits including the absolute best seats directly in front of the Main Stage. And new this year, the seats are being sold as specific reserved seats so you can have the same seats each evening.

Also included with each individual membership is an artist reception and dinner where Terrace Club patrons can hear from artists up close and personal and enjoy an appetizing meal. For complete Terrace Club details go to our VIP/Terrace Club page. Note that Terrace Club memberships are being accepted now prior to the public ticket sale date and that the donation portion of the amount paid is tax deductible.

The launch of the festival's revamped website each year serves as the first announcement that planning for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend festival is moving full-speed-ahead. Discovering which artists will be appearing is always exciting news, as fans from all parts of California and the Southwest discover if some of their favorite artists will be performing.

The 2008 line up once again looks like a hit maker "who's who in Christian music". Already confirmed for the Del Mar event is Newsboys, tobyMac, Third Day, Kutless, Aaron Shust and Matthew West. Energetic rock bands secured for the 3-day event include Pillar, Seventh Day Slumber, Skillet, Thousand Foot Krutch and Stellar Kart. Other artists scheduled to appear include Phil Joel, Todd Agnew and Barlowgirl. Each of these three will deliver a teaching session or audience question and answer "talk-back".

Spirit West Coast has a reputation for presenting note-worthy emerging talent, and the 2008 harvest will include one of the Christian music's brightest new singer/songwriters, Leeland, rocker bands, Red, Wavorly, The Myraid and Ruth, and artists who are leaving their mark on Christian radio, Rush of Fools (hit songs Undo and When Our Hearts Sing) and Phil Wickham (After Your Heart). Other emerging artists will be announced as the entire lineup is rolled-out in the next few weeks.

There is a lot more presented with the programming of Spirit West Coast than music acts - Speakers & teachers, comedians, the children's ministry talent, and those participants will be announced soon.