Do we qualify for the 144 free visa waiver, I am being told NOT

Please help, I am going round in circles. Me and my husband fly to Shanghai from the UK in Feb 2020 we stay in a hotel for 2 nights in Shanghai before transferring to a ship at the cruise terminal, we stay in port onboard ship for another night (3 nights in Shanghai in total) before we set sail for Japan. Nobody will give me a straight answer other than I have to go to the embassy have an interview have my fingerprints taken and will be over £300 lighter in my pocket. I am convinced we do not need a VISA for just 3 days.

In anticipation

Ruth