Cinque Terre, shared

Two hours, the whole coastline — the same run as the private tour, with the seats sold one at a time. Ghibli leaves Molo dei Pescatori and traces all five villages in one unbroken pass: Vernazza gathered around its harbour, the vineyard terraces above Corniglia, Manarola stacked into its ravine, Riomaggiore at the far end. A swim and snorkel stop along the way when the sea is calm, with masks and cold drinks on board.

Seven Seats, One Departure

Nine departure times are listed, from nine in the morning until five. The first booking of the day sets the hour, and the remaining seats fill in around it — so the time you see when you book is the time the boat goes. Seven guests is the most Ghibli takes on a shared run, two the fewest, and the boat sails either way.

What Changes, and What Doesn't

What changes is the price and the company: ninety euros a person instead of four hundred for the boat, and other guests on deck. What doesn't change is the boat, the captain, or the coast. Tommy is at the helm, Ghibli is the same working fishing boat he has taken out of Monterosso for forty years, and it keeps the same five knots near shore inside the Marine Protected Area. Life jackets are aboard for everyone, and a booking can be cancelled free of charge up to twenty-four hours before departure.

Taking the Whole Boat Instead

Six guests on the private Cinque Terre tour comes to five hundred and twenty euros — about eighty-seven each, less than a shared seat. If your group is already four or more, the private boat is both cheaper per head and yours alone. The shared departure exists for the ones who are two, or three, and would rather not pay for six.