Ah you're right. Back in June 2015, I paid 26 Euro from Monterosso and that include the 3-island cruise departing at 12 and 14:30 from Palmaria.

Of all your choices, the one that surprised us as to how much we really liked it was Mantua. Would keep that one of the list.

I too loved Mantua and its lovely lakes that were ponded up in medieval times on three sides of the city to help defend it.

We much preferred Santa Margherita Ligure to the CT. We're about your age and were there last May (we took the train from SML to Varenna, about three hours and very easy). We had a Lovely walk (not a hike, an ocean side walk) to Portofino, and it was SO relaxing and beautiful. The Cinque Terre was slammed.

We stayed at the Hotel Miramare and it was our favorite place in Italy.

I also enjoyed SMLigure and we day tripped by train to CT and walked the whole 7 miles or so between all five villages and went back to more real (but still touristed) SML - to see them unloading the daily catch at the fish docks.

We did a lovely walk SML to Portofino up and over the hills -can also go by boat or bus not roads were closed off the cars.