Ferry arrival to Cinque Terre stay

Your plan doesn't seem physically practical to me. You'll have 6 people with baggage and the La Spezia dock is across town from the train station. The ferry is fairly expensive and there's always a chance the weather could cause modification or cancellation of service (there's little chance the boat would be sold out at La Spezia). Take the train using an easy transfer at La Spezia, drop off your bags in Corniglia and explore from there.

I would not want to be getting on and off one of those ferries with luggage.

Thank you for the comments. We are packing light with back packs and small wheeled travel totes (no check in luggage for us!). My main concern was the availability of the ferry in La Spezia. The ferry is a 16 minute walk from La Spezia Centrale, which is fine for us especially since will will be on a train for 6 hours from Venice.

Hotel relocation, packing up in one to walking out of the next, going direct by train figure on 8 hours. Don't see where there is time for a ferry.

I would want to get to the hotel and drop off the bags, even if packing light. Then do my exploring. Unless you have plans for your 1 full day, use it for the ferry, then train to see each town. Unfortunately, your time in CT is limited either way.

My thinking is, like you said, our time is limited and I am thinking using the ferry for our arrival will check off our list of seeing the villages by sea. Then we will settle in at our airbnb on the cliff with a roof top terrace (I can't wait!), and explore in the afternoon. Day 2 is a possibility of using the ferry. I guess we will see how we feel on our travel day. Thank you all, your suggestions were very good!

Six adult day tickets (allowing off & on) would be about 210 Euro (6x35). One-way La Spezia to Monterosso would be somewhat less @ 138 Euro (6x23 if I'm reading the obtuse price listing right) plus the train back to Corniglia, and you would not get to explore beautiful Portovenere. The train one-way will be about 25 Euro for six people.

Here's the flaw in your plan. You won't have time that first afternoon to explore if you take a ferry from La Spezia to Monterosso and then double back to Corniglia on the local train. Even if you take the 7:25am train to La Spezia (5 hours, one of the fastest of the day) and then the ferry, it would be late afternoon before you were settled into your lodgings in Corniglia. If you took a later train and then a ferry, it could be early evening.

Yes, you are right it will be the early evening, but isn't it true that seeing the villages by the sea is a must? We will have more time the next day to explore the other villages by hiking and or using the Cinque Terre express train. The price of the ferry is also alot less expensive then paying for a boat tour too. I Think we will see how we feel once we get to La Spezia. I love this Forum for all the thoughtful advice!