Wow - I would have never guessed that you had not been to the Cinque. Unfortunately, it can get overrun now that the cruise ships have found it.
(Not a slam on cruise ships - Just when the ship has 2500 more people aboard that live in the town it gets overrun quickly)

My favorite two towns are to the East of the Cinque Terre. They are Lerici (pic1) or Porto Venere (pic2)
They are much better for an overnight on a boat. The ferries run regularly.
If you stay in La Spezia the train runs through the mountain to the CT. Maybe a 15 min ride