Will we qualify for 144 hour free transits in Shanghai and Beijing

Hi, we are flying from cairns Australia to Hong Kong staying one night then flying on to Shanghai. We stay in Shanghai two nights then board a cruise going to South Korea then back to Beijing where it docks for two days before heading to Japan where we will eventually fly back home from Tokyo . This will be in March next year. Will the cruise count as a 3rd stop as it goes to South Korea before Beijing . Also will that work for Beijing 144 hour stay as we will be heading to Japan. Will we need to apply for visas