Travel from Cruise Ship to Cinque Terre

Just where are you going? The CT is a large area. Sort like saying I am going to hike the front range. Is this a day stop or end of cruise? What is your starting point?

AR,

The cruise line staff will no doubt be able to provide information on the best transportation method. That will probably involve a Taxi from the dock to La Spezia Centrale and then the local trains to whichever of the five towns you want to start in. At the end of the day, reverse the route.

One point to mention about the hiking is that only two of the four segments of the popular Sentiero Azzurro trails will be open this year (Monterosso - Vernazza - Corniglia). You'll need to purchase a Park Pass to hike those. I'd suggest starting in Monterosso and working south, as the first section is the most challenging. That will also get you moving back towards La Spezia for the trip back to the ship. Be sure to take lots of water.

Backing up Ken's advice here. Cinque Terre National Park has a wide system of trails but the most heavily hiked are the 4 segments of the SVA2 Sentiero Azzurro route. As he said, the sections between Corniglia>Manarola and Manarola> Riomaggiore have been closed for some years now and look to remain so this year so that leaves Monterosso>Vernazza>Cornigilia. Catching a train in LsSpezia to Monterosso, hiking as far as Corniglia and then taking trains onward is a good plan.

Trail info on the park's website:
http://www.parconazionale5terre.it/Eindex.php
http://www.parconazionale5terre.it/Esentieri-outdoor.php

Yes, you will need to purchase park passes to hike any section of the SVA2:
http://www.parconazionale5terre.it/page.php?id=157

Access to the trails is dependent on weather. They close in wet conditions that can make them unsafe, and can close to rock slides or other damage as well. Expect the SVA2 to be VERY busy!!!!!

Editing to add: You don't say WHEN your trip is? The SVA2 shows as completely closed right now - all sections - but I'm sure they're hustling to get Monterosso>Vernazza>Cornigilia open in April sometime.

Practically all of the trains are regionales, do not have seat assignments, and tickets MUST be validated before boarding. A 1-day trail l+ train pass is also available that only has to be validated the first time you use it. In your case, I think this would be a worthwhile buy as you'd be using the trains enough to more than break even.

http://www.parconazionale5terre.it/page.php?id=158

Thanks for your great feedback. We travel in July, and will plan on starting north and heading south, I have done the hike, but it was some years ago and not with young kids (10,10,8... all pretty strong and like to hike).

Is it too much to think we could do CT and Pisa in the same day? Not trying to max out - that is not my style - but thought I would ask the question.

Does it make sense to buy the 1-day train pass, take the train to the northern stop and then take the train back to the port?

I don't think there's any way humanly possible to do hiking in the CT plus Pisa in one day on public transportation and make it back to your ship in time.

Is it too much to think we could do CT and Pisa in the same day?

No, too much.

Does it make sense to buy the 1-day train pass, take the train to the
northern stop and then take the train back to the port?

You have to do the math. The Treno Pass is not JUST a train pass; figure the cost for a permit to hike ANY piece of the SVA2 plus train tickets from points around the CT - at about 4 euro a pop - to make that decision. I'm also not sure that your train pass will get you back to the port in La Spezia.