Arriving shanghai on Princess Cruise lines

Ron, you will be eligible for 24 hour visa free transit and you don't need any kind of visa, but under the following conditions:

- Your cruise is not allowed to have its last port of call, immediately before Shanghai, in mainland China port.
- Your flight from Shanghai to US is not allowed to have any additional landing in mainland China and in the country where your cruise will have its last port of call, immediately before Shanghai.

If the above condition is fulfilled, you are definitely eligible for 24 hour visa free transit in Shanghai area.

You will declare that you will use 24 hour visa free transit to the authorities in the last port of call, immediately before Shanghai. They will check your flight ticket for US and shortly after that, they will allow you to proceed to Shanghai.

While on the sea, you will almost certainly be given a yellow form (arrival/departure card) that you will fill out. It is possible that also a blue form will be dispensed, but this is less certain. Never mind because you will find this blue form at 24 hour visa free transit counter at the cruise terminal. You will fill it out and shortly after you will be granted a temporary entry permit and you will be allowed to exit the airport.

You will also print out your flight ticket and your cruise ticket. As you can see, quite a simple procedure.