We are doing cruise which stops overnight in Shanghai and later overnight in Tianjin Port (Beijing)

We are Australians.
The cruise starts in Hong Kong 28 Feb 2017 and visits Shanghai for an overnight stay on 3/4 March. 5 days later visits Tianjin Port (Beijing) for an overnight stay on 8/9 March. Then 10 days later returns to Shanghai for another overnight stay on19/20 March. In between these dates the cruise visits South Korea and Japan. The cruise makes a few stops at Taiwan before finishing in Hong Kong on 28 March.
Are we eligible for the 15 Day Free Policy Adopted for Cruise Tour Groups to Shanghai which took effect 1 October 2016?
Are we eligible also for the 144 Hour Exemption Transit Policy atPorts of Entry in Shanghai which takes effect 30 January 2017?
Do either or both of these policies include Beijing?
Does this mean we can go ashore form the ship to walk around a town or go shopping or even catch the Bullet train without a visa? Or can we only go ashore if we have pre-booked a tour through a registered Chinese Travel Agency?