We work on cruise ships as entertainers (not crew members)

We are having a difficult time getting answers regarding the immigration requirements (visa's) for cruising on cruise ship that embarks from China. We have "Guest status" when we work on cruise ships so we are not on a crew manifest and are required to go through immigration each embarkation day in China (Shanghai) along with all the other guests. We fly from the US to Japan to catch the ship and then will be in the Chinese immigration each week in Shanghai. Do we need to arrange getting a Visa? We will never be over night in Shanghai. The day we fly out of China we will not be overnight in China.