The list of ship commissionings in 1988 includes a chronological list of all ships commissioned in 1988.
| Operator | Ship | Flag | Class and type | Pennant | Other notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 January |  United States Navy | San Jacinto | Ticonderoga-class cruiser | CG-56 | ||
| 30 May |  Spanish Navy | Príncipe de Asturias | STOL aircraft carrier | R11 | ||
| 12 August | United States Navy | Lake Champlain | Ticonderoga-class cruiser | CG-57 | ||
| November |  People's Liberation Army Navy | Changzheng 4 | Type 091 submarine | 404 | date of initial operational capability |