FLC EXPERIENCED CRACKED WINDSHIELD. FLC DIVERTED INTO CAK TO GET WINDSHIELD REPAIRED. CONFUSION OCCURRED REGARDING ROUTING AUTH BY TWR TO THE RAMP.

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FLT FROM PHL TO CVG; WE HAD A CRACKED WINDSHIELD AND WE DIVERTED TO CAK. UPON LNDG ON RWY 19 IN CAK WE CAME TO A SLOW TAXI. THE CTLR INSTRUCTED US TO TAXI TO THE RAMP AS WE WERE TAXIING DOWN THE RWY. I ASKED THE FO TO ASK THE CTLR IF WE COULD USE RWY 23 TO TAXI CLR OF RWY 19 (TO EXPEDITE OUR TAXI AND DEPS ON RWY 19). CTLR INSTRUCTED US TO TAXI TO THE RAMP. WE TURNED OFF ONTO RWY 23 AND OFF RWY 23 TO THE RAMP WITHOUT A SIT. THE CTLR VOICED HIS CONCERN ABOUT US TURNING OFF ONTO RWY 23; AFTER WE WERE TOLD TO 'TAXI TO THE RAMP AND CALL GND.' WE ASKED IF WE COULD USE RWY 23 AGAIN WE WERE TOLD TO 'TAXI TO THE RAMP.' APPARENTLY WE MISUNDERSTOOD THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE CTLR. TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE: WHEN WE AS A CREW ARE TOLD TO TAXI TO THE RAMP WE TEND TO GO THE MOST DIRECT RTE. IF A CTLR WANTS US TO DO SOMETHING SPECIFIC; HE SHOULD SAY TAXI VIA TXWY ? TO THE RAMP. WE ASKED IF WE COULD DO SOMETHING (TURN OFF AT RWY 23) AND WE WERE TOLD THE SAME 'TAXI TO THE RAMP.' THE PROB IS WE ASSUMED WE CAN DO IT. TO PREVENT PROBS IN THE FUTURE; CTLR NEEDS TO BE MORE SPECIFIC WITH HIS INSTRUCTIONS; 'TAXI CLR OF RWY AT TXWY ? CONTACT GND.