Boarding cruise in Shanghai, is visa required?

Hi. I'm going to Shanghai to board a cruise, the following port being in Japan, then coming back to Shanghai for under 24hrs, to the depart again, following port being South Korea, to then not return to China at all. I read (on website that certain nationalities including Australians do not need a visa if transiting through Shanghai in under 48hours. Do i still need to apply for a tourist visa even because i will be leaving the airport?