single or double entry visa for cruise

I'm taking a 2-week cruise in October, looking at your firm for excursions, have a question. The cruise starts in Japan, then stops in Beijing, Shanghai, and ends in Hong Kong. Our ship stays for 2 days in Beijing, and we want to one (1) night stay at a hotel in Beijing, rather than the 3-hour drive back to the ship. I know I need an entry permit for the Beijing overnight. The next stop is Shanghai- 2 days there, but we will sleep on the ship since it's a port city. My question is how to answer the question on the application form "Intended number of entries". Should I check (1) entry, or two (2) entries? Cruise line seems clueless. I have no plans to return to China in the year following our cruise. Thanks much.