Visa for China - boarding cruise ship

I am flying from the United States to China. I’ll be there at a hotel than 24 hrs before boarding ship for Japan. The cruise is back to back. The first cruise is 4 nights and then returning to Shanghai which I plan on staying onboard ship. The second leg is 7 nights to Japan also returning to Shanghai. I plan on staying in China ar a hotel for two days. Do I qualify for the 144 hr visa or should I just order reg visa for China.
Laura