Visa before departure if 10 hour stop in Shanghai?

[kraftylady]

I have a question re need to obtain a Chinese Visa when on a 10 - 12 hour stop in Shanghai whilst on a cruise that begins and finishes in Sydney Australia.

Does the 72 hour transit rule when entering China where an Australian Passport holder does not need to get a visa issued in Australia prior to arrival apply to cruise passengers yet or is it only applicable to air travellers?

I have contacted the Visa office in Sydney and the response only referred to entering via air.

I have re-emailed them specifically stating my original request referred to entering via the Cruise terminal. NO REPLY.:confused: