USA Citizen taking cruise from Shanghai. Does 144hr apply?

Your itinerary is definitely eligible for 24 or 144 hour visa free transit and you do not need any kind of visa. Here I will encourage you to use correct terminology because this is not 24 or 144 hour visas, but 24 or 144 hour visa free transit, so there is no visa of any kind.

When I say 24 or 144 hour visa free transit, it depends whether your layover in Shanghai, counting from your scheduled arrival in Shanghai, until your scheduled departure from Shanghai is shorter or longer than 24 hours. It is obvious that your second stay in Shanghai will be shorter than 24 hours, but I cannot be certain about your first stay. Never mind and you really do not have to bother about this because being it 24 or 144 hour visa free transit, this is perfectly the same in your case and you can proceed with your travel plans with perfect peace of mind, free from visa related formalities.