Cruising Antarctica vs the Arctic - Advantages & Disadvantages 

Are they similar? Or polar opposites?

Wildlife - Both sides have remarkable wildlife viewing opportunities. The icons of each pole - penguins in the south and polar bears in the north - don't disappoint. That is, unless the elusive polar bear escapes your view, which is a possibility depending on where you go. Penguins, in all their cuteness, will be seen by the thousands on any Antarctica cruise. 

Travel - Both the Arctic and Antarctic are accessed by expedition cruises. Antarctica is accessed primarily from the southern tip of South America, while most in North America and Europe have quicker access to Arctic cruise ports. In general, the time commitment and cost of an Arctic cruise is considerably less than an Antarctic cruise. 

Geography -  The Arctic region is an ocean surrounded by continents, while the Antarctic is a continent surrounded by oceans. Antartica is also has the highest average altitude above sea level of any continent, largely because of 90% of the world's ice is piled upon the continent. Both poles are cold, but the South Pole is colder - by a long shot.